Retired GP Stephen Glascoe has called for an inquiry into her handling of sex cases after he was put through months of hell based on the claims of a 'serial fantasist'

A retired GP who was among five men accused of being part of a paedophile ring by a 'serial fantasist' has called for a national inquiry into the way sex cases are handled.

Retired GP Stephen Glascoe, 67, retired social worker Patrick Graham, 61, and three other men were accused of raping the woman at parties in Cardiff in the late 1980s and early 90s.

But the case crumbled just two weeks before trial after prosecutors said they had concerns about her evidence.

It emerged the woman had recalled being abused during controversial regression therapy. A consultant gynacologist meanwhile told the court she appears to have based her account of an abortion of an episode of Call the Midwife.

The alleged victim, who received £22,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, claimed she had a forced abortion and was made to torture other children.

Dr Glascoe said that the information provided about how that the alleged procedure was carried out was 'completely impossible'.

During an 18-month investigation, Dr Glascoe said he had spent £100,000 in legal fees in order to fight the 13 charges against him.

The doctor says the woman's claims about her alleged abortion were based on Call the Midwife

Speaking after the case against him was dropped, he said: 'This has had a devastating impact on my life and on my wife and impact our friends and loved ones.

'They have tried to conceal from me how upset it has made them but in the last few days they have been ringing up and explaining how upset they have been that I was facing the prospect of going to prison for the rest of my life for crimes I didn't commit.

'Every single person who knows me and knows about these charges has just said 'we never doubted you'.'

He said he feared he could have been sent to prison for the rest of his life in what he says would have been a 'huge miscarriage of justice'.

Later speaking to The Times, he criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders over her comments that men cleared of rape were not falsely accused.

He said the 'pendulum has swung too far' in favour of accusers being believed and not those they accused.

The doctor criticised Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders over her claims sex case defendants were not wrong accused

The former GP was arrested after coming back from holiday in July 2016 and is now calling for a national inquiry to be held into how police and prosecutors handle rape cases.

The men were due to stand trial at Cardiff Crown Court on 29 January, but all charges were dropped at Newport Crown Court on Monday.

Judge Thomas Crowther said an internal police investigation would be likely as it was revealed the accuser exchanged 1,000 texts, 530 emais and 118 telephone calls with Detective Constable Beverly Norman.

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: 'Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic and devastating experiences a person can suffer and every case reported to South Wales Police is fully investigated and victims given the full support of our officers.

'Throughout any investigation, we regularly communicate with the victim in order to offer them support and keep them updated on progress, but also to obtain other essential information for example arranging for statements to be taken.

The men were brought before Cardiff Crown Court only to be cleared before a planned trial

The spokesman added: 'This particular case involved a vulnerable woman who required additional support, not only throughout the investigation but in the lead-up to the court case.

'She lived outside of Wales which meant that officers had to rely on electronic means of communication such as text messages and e-mail.

'While we are disappointed by the outcome at Newport Crown Court, we respect the decision made by the Crown Prosecution Service that new evidence meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

'We will, in due course review this investigation and act on any lessons which arise'.

A CPS spokesman said: 'The CPS keeps all cases continually under review in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Following further investigation, new evidence was revealed and it was decided that there was no longer a realistic prospect of prosecution.'