OUTSIDE the unreal worlds of science fiction, there are not many ways in which you can become transformed into your worst possible nightmare.

But it can happen and it does happen every day - it happened to me.

As an experienced professional involved in the care and education of young people for over 15 years, I was falsely accused of abuse.

Over the next two years I was arrested, questioned for seven hours, charged with four offences of assault, fingerprinted, photographed and a DNA sample taken. I appeared in a magistrates' court and had my name and address published as an alleged child abuser.

I eventually appeared in front of a Crown Court where the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty, in less than an hour. Costs were awarded against the Crown and Northumbria Police's child abuse investigation had again been proved woefully wrong in their prosecution.

Not one of the complaints was made as a result of ex-clients going to the police. All were as a result of the police searching for former clients and inviting them to make allegations and complaints.

The temptation was to hide, to account for my not being at work through illness or redundancy. Instead, I told everyone what was happening to me, through friends and friends of friends.

The effect of this on my family can be imagined - no one in my, or my wife's, family has ever had a police record. My children and family had to bear this too, which increased my burden. Months became years and the pressure grew with the nearing of the trial date.

If I lost, I would face prison, no job, unemployment, having to sell the house, not being able to pay the mortgage, and I would be put on the abuse register.

Having being found not guilty, the release of the pressure was like a rebirth, but I will never go back to working with children. The risks are too high.

Nor will any of my family or their children.

I worked closely with the police on a daily basis in the course of my work. Will I ever help them again? Never - I've seen them too close up! My values have changed utterly.

The support of family, friends and former colleagues has been breathtaking and humbling.

After the court case, I had to go through a second line of investigation by Northumberland County Council.

Six months later, they said I could be redeployed into another school. I declined and held out for retirement with enhanced benefits.

Operation Rose has left me marked for life