A man has spoken of his relief at clearing his name after being found not guilty of stealing a vibrator and an iPad, following an appeal.

Ian Bamford, previously of Briardale in Stevenage, was convicted of burglary at Hertford Magistrates’ Court in April last year.

However, following an appeal hearing at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, he has been cleared of all charges.

The 41-year-old had previously been ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and pay a total of £1,160 in fines following a break-in at a house in Longcroft Road, Stevenage, in December 2012, when an Apple iPad and a vibrator worth £410 in total were taken.

Mr Bamford, who now lives in London, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I was found guilty last year. I felt humiliated and was regularly ridiculed for something I hadn’t done. People would shout abuse at me while I was in my home – I couldn’t handle it.”

He was admitted to Lister Hospital in Stevenage last year with a build-up of inflammation on the cervical spine – a neck condition caused by stress – which meant he could not complete his community service. This resulted in him being ordered to wear an electronic tag.

He said: “The whole process had an awful effect on my mental health. I had lived in a very tight-knit community and suddenly they all thought I was a thief or a pervert or both. A lot of people began to distance themselves from me and treat me like a real outsider. It was hard not to feel as if they had all turned against me.

“It feels good to have finally cleared my name and know that I can move on. It’s a huge weight off of my shoulders.”