AN internet tycoon has vowed to take legal action after being cleared of sex assault charges.
Anthony David Atherton, 51, from Bolton, was also found not guilty of attempted rape, making a threat to kill and false imprisonment.
Outside court, the self-confessed cocaine addict, who was one of Britain's first 'dot.com' millionaires, vowed to re-build his reputation.
Mr Atherton became a multi-millionaire from the sale of his online computer retail company Dabs.com to British Telecom in 2006. His lawyer said he would be taking legal action 'against those who have wronged him and taken advantage of him'.
Mr Atherton, who said he had been drug-free since August, said: "I am grateful that after eight months of hell, I have been vindicated."
The tycoon, who began his working life as a self-stacker at Tesco, was accused of attacking a woman in the kitchen of his £1.2m home in Victoria Road, Heaton, last August.
Vindicated
The woman told Leeds Crown Court he dragged her to the ground, sexually assaulted her and tried to rape her.
She went on to allege that Mr Atherton threatened to drown her in his swimming pool before she ran half-naked out of the house to raise the alarm.
The incident at the centre of the charges was captured on CCTV at the house. But Mr Atherton said in court that the woman's claims were a pretence.
He said the incident was part of sex games and the woman had a rape fantasy and put up mock resistance.
The trial heard evidence of drug use, sex parties and nightclubs and Mr Atherton admitted to being a cocaine user before he sold the business.
Cocaine use
He said the woman who made the allegations was a high-class escort and she asked for money when they had sex.
The woman cannot be named for legal reasons. An application to trial judge Jennifer Kershaw QC by Mr Atherton's legal team to lift restrictions so she could be identified was rejected.
Solicitor Paul Schofield said: "While the result does go a long way to restoring Mr Atherton's earlier impeccable reputation, it is his firm intention to take legal action against those who have wronged him."
Mr Atherton became interested in computers in the 1980s and went on to work for the BBC. He moved to Bolton from London to form Dabs Press, a computer book publishing firm.
The company became catalogue firm Dabs Direct in 1990, then Dabs.com, an online retailer in 1999. The company had a turnover of £25m and at the time he sold it, sales were £150m and the firm was making an annual profit of £5m.
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neil sk6 (02/05/2009 at 07:43)
I am all up for naming and shaming the pond life that do this to women (and men) but why do the laws not apply to everyone.
heptarchy, aha (02/05/2009 at 09:06)
David lewis (02/05/2009 at 09:43)
Tezza, Tyldesley (02/05/2009 at 11:15)
This could ruin this mans life, as lots of people will still say “there’s no smoke without fire”.
The law needs to be changed so that no one gets named until found guilty.
12stringbassist, Bolton (02/05/2009 at 11:33)
Dave, Bolton, Bolton (02/05/2009 at 15:09)
Unlike theft, drugs and violence, where most of society have similar views, we all have very different views on sex. Sex is a private matter, and this case has 'washed dirty linen in public' for two people. One is anonymised, the other is not.
Sex cases should be anonymised until the verdict, and in the event of acquittal, both or neither parties should be named. For convictions, the existing rules are fair. Trials are normally many months after the event. A week or two more of press delay would not be against the public interest.
Pandora (02/05/2009 at 15:49)
David Lenten (04/05/2009 at 01:19)
DKL
Old work colleague 1981
Esso Blue, Manchester. (04/05/2009 at 18:31)
Jay B, oldham (05/05/2009 at 10:15)
something needs to change. we all need to be warned of people like her!