A Lanarkshire dad living a mistaken identity nightmare has spoken out to clear his name after being blackmailed and accused of leaving a woman with severe brain damage.
James Stocks shares the same name as a convicted drink driver who was jailed for four years in 2017 following a car crash that left a woman with life-changing injuries.
Driver Stocks was more than double the legal limit when he got behind the wheel and ploughed his car into a wall on an Airdrie street, leaving his passenger and then-girlfriend, fighting for her life.
The unfortunate name share has seen dad-of-two James receive "terrible judgement and harassment," with some people believing he was responsible for the horror crash.
James says the trolling and accusations have had a severe impact on his life with his two young sons, whom he has sole custody of, also impacting his relationship and professional career too.
He has even endured horrific blackmail threats from someone who believes he is the convicted James Stocks, forcing him to seek legal help to try and clear the matter up.
He told Lanarkshire Live : "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."
While James shares the name and similar ages as the convicted drink driver - 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 this James does not share the same date of birth as the man who went to jail.
They said: "We can confirm that the James Stocks who was involved in the crash in 2017 does not have the same date of birth as this gentleman."
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