AN innocent man caught up in the paper's name and shame campaign says he fears the possibility of vigilante violence.

Last Sunday, the Sunday paper named former swimming coach Stephen Featherstone, 33, known as Glen, formerly of Thames Road, in Billingham, who was convicted last year of a series of sex assaults against girls.

A Teesside radio station this week broadcast an apology to two men with similar names, who complained they had been mistaken for the convicted man after Featherstone's name was carried in a news article.

Middlesbrough dental technician Stephen Andrew Featherstone, 37, of Hogarth Close, Billingham, said yesterday: "I've only had my colleagues ribbing me about this, but my customers don't know who I am, except for my name and it could affect my livelihood."

The married technician has two young children and added: "It's at the front of mind my family could be targets or a brick be thrown through my windows, like the chap in Manchester who was mistaken for one of these sex offenders."

Another innocent Billingham man, Stephen Featherstone, 42, also complained about the broadcast.

The guilty man disappeared after his conviction last November and did not return to Teesside Crown Court for sentencing.

Police are now seeking his extradition from what is believed to be a Spanish island, but fear the News of the World report would scare Featherstone into going to ground again.