A MAN accused of raping an academic who grew up in Letchworth GC has thanked her for fighting to clear his name.

Dr Rachel Turner was attacked while walking along a beach path in Barbados in October 2010.

The former Grange Junior and Norton secondary school pupil was in court in Barbados with local man Derick Crawford, 47, on Thursday to help clear his name after he was accused of the assault.

The 30-year-old has always said she was “absolutely convinced” Mr Crawford was innocent and was not the man who raped her.

Mr Crawford, of Lakes Close in Eden Lodge, was also accused of raping another British woman in the same area of Holetown St James two days later.

He spent 18 months in jail, but a court in Barbados dismissed the case against him on Thursday.

Dr Turner moved away from Letchworth GC when she went to university and has been living in Barbados for two years, where she holds a research post at the University of the West Indies.