Former JLS star Ortisé Williams who was cleared of rape in May has told how the allegation hung over his head 'every minute' for the three years between it being made and his acquittal in May.

The singer, 32, told Good Morning Britain: 'I haven’t been able to work for three years I’ve had this accusation hanging over my head every day from the minute I wake up to the minute I go to bed.'

He was accused of launching a sex attack on a 20-year-old tattoo artist, after plying her and two pals with alcohol on December 2, 2016.

Friend and tour manager Jamien Nagadhana, also 32, was also charged with sexual touching and assault by penetration of the same woman at the pair's room in Wolverhampton's Ramada Hotel.

But a jury of eight women and four men took two hours and 17 minutes to find Williams and Nagadhana not guilty of all charges following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Today he told Piers Morgan: 'I haven’t been able to work for three years I’ve had this accusation hanging over my head every day form the minute I wake up to the minute I go to bed.

'But I had two choices, let it destroy or hope the truth would one day come out which it did.'

This morning Mr Williams said he had had the accusation hanging over his head eevry day for three years from morning til night

Former JLS singer Oritsé Williams was today cleared of raping a woman at a hotel. He is pictured leaving Wolverhampton Crown Court this afternoon following the verdict

He said it was worst for his family, and that he had tried to protect his mother from reading unpleasant stories or coverage but it was difficult for someone in the public eye.

He added: 'My family are so loving and I’ve had so much unconditional reliable support - and MY fans have been absolutely amazing.

Spekaing to recent controversies surrounding sex abuse complainants being anonymous but their alleged attackers being publicly named and shamed, he said he would have preferred to have been anonymous.

He said: 'I wanted my name cleared as quickly as possible, wanted to move forward with my life.'

But the star was praised for adding: 'At the same time we have to continue to encourage real victims to come forward and we can’t forgot about that.'

He said he had tried to put some of the recent turmoil in his life into his music.

'I’ve poured my heart out into my songs I’ve bled over them,' he said.

Alexandra Burke commented on Marvin's post to give her support for Mr Williams (she is pictured above with JLS in 2009)

Alexandra Burke (third) said Mr Williams (left) 'conducted himself like a king'. She is pictured with Mr Williams, Aston Merrygold and Marvin Humes

A defence barrister told Wolverhampton Crown Court in May: 'There may be many reasons why a person makes false allegations.

'But we say these are false allegations levelled at these two men. Whatever her reasons for saying the things she has said, it is not for the defendants to say why that is.

'The victim was happy to be in the room with these two men and consented to what took place in that room.

'When asked by officers what happened, the victim said 'nothing' and then 'oh god, nothing bad'.

'Is that her conscience? Things were taken out of her hands.

'She then says 'they were all great guys'.

JLS shot to fame on X Factor in 2008 after finishing runners-up to Alexandra Burke and went on to sell over ten million records. Williams set up a music firm and sang solo under stage name OWS after the band split in 2013.