EXCLUSIVE

AN OPENLY gay man has set out to clear his name after being branded a paedophile by angry neighbours who have won their bid to have him evicted from his council flat.

As he vowed to fight Hyndburn Council, William Rutherford, 53, declared: "I might be gay but I'm no child abuser."

Disabled Mr Rutherford claims he is the victim of a smear campaign.

But residents living near him in Haywood Close, Accrington, said: "He's a nightmare neighbour who has caused anxiety and ruined our quality of life."

Mr Rutherford said: "The neighbours say I have nearly 20 teenagers running amok in my flat and that I put on gay porn films for them. But I only have one and I don't believe that sort of material is suitable for mixed company.

"Unquestionably, I am being victimised because I'm gay. My front door was kicked in because of my sexuality so I don't know how people can say it's not true. I really want to set the record straight. I feel disgusted and appalled that I've been castigated in this way.

"I've battled these scurrilous accusations since September when I moved in. My neighbours tied in complaints about noise nuisance with the fact that I have teenagers round. It's simply not fair and I know in my heart I shouldn't be forced out next month."

"I'm lodging an official complaint against the council for the way it conducted its investigation."

Mr Rutherford moved from Glasgow to Hyndburn in 2003 after he was nearly killed by two thugs who beat him so viciously his face needed rebuilding in a seven-hour operation.

In 2002, Mr Rutherford's ex-lover was jailed for life for sexually abusing children but the former cinema projectionist believes he was found guilty by association.

He said: "I believe people here know about it and have tarred me with the same brush. I was instrumental in getting the monster jailed but I've been given a life sentence too."

One neighbour, who would not be named, said if Mr Rutherford won an appeal to stay, several residents would leave.

Speaking on behalf of Haywood Close tenants, she said: "There's no way he's the victim of a gay hate campaign. He drives us mad with his noise and teenagers coming and going. When the police are called, which is often, the place is bedlam. We are sick of him and sick of living on our nerves."

Hyndburn Council's Cabinet portfolio holder for housing, Councillor Peter Clarke, said: "On Monday 9 May Hyndburn Council was awarded possession of his flat.

"Complaints were received by the council shortly after the start of the tenancy in September, stating that there were high levels of noise coming from the flat.

"Despite visits and warnings from housing officers, the council had further complaints from residents of lots of problems in and around the tenancy involving noise nuisance, drunken youths running in and out of the flat, loud music, door slamming and threatening and abusive language.

"The police were called out to several incidents and have supported the council in the action taken. The quality of life for the residents of Haywood Close has been spoiled by the anti-social behaviour of this tenant. The council owes it to its good tenants to ensure that incidents of anti-social behaviour are resolved as quickly as possible."

Sergeant Bob Eaton, of Accrington Police, said: "We worked closely with the housing department over this and helped to collect evidence to support the council's actions.

"This man's sexuality is his own business and has not figured in any of our actions. What matters is that his elderly neighbours are entitled to live in peace. The final word on that belongs to the judge who passed an objective judgement in favour of the council."