He spent two years behind bars before a jury at Hull Crown Court cleared him of raping an 11-year-old girl last month.

The verdict came exactly 12 months after he had been found guilty of the four counts – but he had also spent several months on remand before the trial.

Speaking to the Free Press from his mother's home in Bridlington, the 42-year-old said: "I'm making a fresh start, trying to find somewhere to live. I'm just so glad it is all over.

"I have been in prison for two years, I've had problems inside and I've had depression but I told myself 'never give up'."

Mirroring the case of Barry George, which hit the headlines this week when he was released after wrongly serving eight years for the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando, Mr Webster said he is now looking at claiming for compensation for his time in jail.

Mr Webster, who was born in Leeds but moved to Bridlington in 2000, said: "My solicitor is dealing with it, but I have been told it could be up to £400,000.

"I've been cleared, so hopefully things should settle down, but I will always have this hanging over me."

At the original trial last July, it was alleged that Mr Webster had hidden his distinctive tattoos while he carried out the attacks, which were said to have taken place in the 1990s.

He maintained he had never touched the girl and disputed medical evidence, but was found guilty of all charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

But he maintained his innocence and in February he was granted the right to a retrial at a hearing in London.

The case was reheard over three days in Hull, and Mr Webster was cleared of all allegations and allowed to walk free.

He said: "When the jury came back in I thought 'here we go again'.

"They had been out for a whole day, just like at the previous trial.

"But they stood up and said 'not guilty' and my barrister came up to me and said 'I told you'."