A dad-of-two who shares a name with a convicted drink driver has struggled with a nightmarish case of mistaken identity.
James Stocks has spoken out to clear his name after being blackmailed and accused of leaving a woman with severe brain damage.
The James Stocks who the Lanarkshire dad shares a name with was jailed for four years in 2017 following a car crash that left a woman with life-changing injuries.
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He was more than double the legal alcohol limit when he got behind the wheel of the car and crashed into the wall of an Airdrie street, leaving his then-girlfriend, who was a passenger in the car, fighting for her life.
For James, the mistaken identity means many believe he is the one responsible for the horror crash. He spoke to Lanarkshire Live about the impact this has had on his two sons as well as his relationship and career.
He was even forced to seek legal help after he was blackmailed by someone who believed he was the drink driver.
James said: "My life has been hell recently with all of this mistaken identity and malicious libel levelled at me. I've literally had people accusing me of causing such injuries to the young woman.
"I've even been blackmailed regarding this and other story's to the point I had to bring in my lawyer to try and sort this out. Thankfully we have compiled enough evidence for prosecution if this doesn't stop.
"My whole life has been turned upside down and it's now affecting my boys, who are at an impressionable age, to the point I had to sit them down and tell them it was absolutely nothing to do with me and that daddy has never been to jail.
"My partner has also had people approach her with historic articles claiming it is me but it is simply not true.
"It's been awful and I just want a break - I'm tired of it all."
As well as sharing a name, James is similar age as the convicted man - and even lived near Airdrie at the time of the crash - the convicted James Stocks is from Castle Douglas.
James added: "As well as this I'm actually English with a very obvious English accent and I most definitely do not know the person involved in the crash.
"People who blackmail and threaten with malicious intent cause emotional distress that has a rippling effect.
"No good can come from these actions. I just want to be left alone."
A spokesman for the Crown Office confirmed that James does not share the same date of birth as the man who went to jail for drink driving.
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