A FORMER Blackburn police inspector who was accused of raping two women has been cleared of all charges.

Mustaq Patala, 37, had been accused of 14 counts of rape, three of sexual assault and another of perverting the course of justice.

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He stood trial alongside Arif Patala, 35, and Nighat Anwar, 35, both of Cheltenham Road, Blackburn, who were also accused of perverting the course of justice. They were also cleared of the charges against them.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The trio, who had always denied all of the allegations, had been on trial earlier in the year, but the case fell through after around five weeks because of legal issues.

A new trial had been due to begin, but after more than a week of legal arguments, Judge Heather Lloyd, sitting at Preston Crown Court decided that not guilty verdicts should be entered.

She issued a judgement indicating the reasons why there could not be a fair trial.

Mustaq Patala, who now lives in Princess Parade, Liverpool, quit his highly-rated job in 2011.

He had been seen as a rising star of Lancashire Police and oversaw neighbourhood policing in Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “While disappointed with the outcome we of course respect the decision of the court which we recognise has been taken in the best interests of justice and of the alleged victims.

“Lancashire Constabulary remains committed to investigating allegations of sexual offences, no matter how historic, and no matter what the role, position and status of the alleged offender, and we would encourage anyone who has been a victim to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally.”