'I felt suicidal over rape charge' – Tweed

JADE Goody's widower Jack Tweed said yesterday he contemplated suicide after being arrested on rape charges, for which he was later cleared.

The club promoter said the stigma of being branded a rapist made him feel so low that "I just wanted to end my life".

Tweed conceded he had acted immaturely and has now vowed to grow up. The 22-year-old was cleared last week of raping a teenager at his home in Woodford Green, Essex, along with his friend Anthony Davis.

The 19-year-old woman said she had been "frozen with fear", while Tweed said the sex was consensual.

Tweed, who was cleared by a jury in 15 minutes, was on remand for several months ahead of the trial.

He said yesterday: "When I first went into prison I just wanted to end my life really. I just thought it was pointless carrying on with everything.

"I don't want my name branded with something like this. The whole thing was just a horrible experience."

Tweed married former Big Brother contestant Goody last year just days before her death from cancer.

He said he thought of suicide on a number of occasions while he awaited the court case.

"For the first few months I did think about it a few times. My name's just branded with the word rape and obviously there's people out there who are going to believe it.

"And I didn't want anyone thinking of me like that. It was just a horrible feeling."

He said he got through it with the support of his family, as well as his desire to see Goody's two sons again. The boys' father is TV presenter Jeff Brazier.