A DENTIST unanimously cleared by a jury of assaulting an ex-partner has spoken of the fear he endured for 15 months even though he never doubted his innocence would be proved.

Jonathan Cape was accused of assault former partner Allie Winslade immediately after the end of their relationship, but it took 15 months for the case to get to Bradford Crown Court, where the jury found him not guilty of causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Cape, 46, told the Ilkley Gazette: "I was scared, it is not just about your reputation, it is about your well being and I felt my well being could have been seriously damaged.

"You can never really forsee what the knock-on effects of this sort of situation can be. I was incredibly scared, it has been really stressful for me and my partner," he said.

Although he had the full support of colleagues, family and friends, Mr Cape said remained concerned about the opinions of people who had not previously known him.

"All the people who don't know me, I don't know what they are thinking, even though I was unanimously cleared by a jury of 12.

"That doesn't go away and it is something I wasn't expecting.

"I always knew I would be cleared, but you cannot control what other people are thinking. Ilkley is a close knit community and I am in a position of trust," he said.

Mr Cape has been a dentist in the town for eight years and works at a practice in Wells Road, where he will be returning to work next week.

"People in a professional position are vulnerable and exposed," he said.

"It has been a massive learning curve for me in my life,

" he said, "It is curve ball which has suddenly come out of nowhere and it has left me feeling pretty vulnerable and exposed," he said.

However, he is also looking forwards to a new chapter in his life, with his partner Sunny expecting the couple's baby in January.

"Sunny has been through a lot and she has been amazing. The timing of the child is just perfect and I could not have wished for anything better," he said.

"So much positive has come out of such a negative. It is a cliche, but sometimes it really is quite uncanny how things go around.

"It is now a time to take stock and think about the future. I have never blamed Allie for anything. It is time to move on. I want to hold my head up high and carry one. Another positive is that people who know me well have never believed any of this," he said.