Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A GP has spoken out after being cleared of historic allegations of rape and a charge of performing an illegal abortion.

Stephen Glascoe, 67, denied 13 charges, including rape of a young girl and performing an illegal abortion, dating back to between 1988 and 1996.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges against the former Cardiff GP at Newport Crown Court on Monday after new evidence came to light.

Dr Glascoe, who worked at Kings Road Surgery for a number of years, has said the impact of the case on his health and that of his family and friends has been devastating.

He said he expected to be sent to prison for the rest of his life in what he says would have been a “huge miscarriage of justice”.

He was arrested on July 1, 2016, after getting off a flight at Bristol Airport.

He said he was taken into a side room before being put in handcuffs and then being taken to Cardiff Bay police station, where he was kept overnight before being interviewed.

“It was a horrible, traumatic procedure,” he said.

He was released on bail but then re-arrested in August when a new charge, which alleged he carried out an illegal abortion, was put to him.

Dr Glascoe said that the information provided about how that was carried out was “completely impossible”.

(Image: Richard Swingler)

He said he provided evidence from a consultant gynaecologist which should have ended the continuation of that charge.

“He immediately wrote back and said that the medical processes being described could not have happened.

“It later emerged that the CPS completely ignored that letter.

“It quickly became clear that not all of the evidence which had been submitted was being looked at.”

Dr Glascoe had numerous court dates, first in front of magistrates and then at crown court.

“This has had a devastating impact on my life and on my wife and impact our friends and loved ones,” he said.

“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 that the situation has taken its toll on his health.

The CPS and South Wales Police say they will investigate how the case was handled.

But Dr Glascoe says he does not have confidence in the system.

The court heard texts and emails between police and the complainant have been reviewed.

Dr Glascoe says that they totalled hundreds of emails and more than 1,000 text messages.

He said he had read all those messages and they gave him the impression the police were not just speaking to the accuser but “appeared to be encouraging” her.

He has called for an independent review into the handling of the case.

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.

“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.”