An acne sufferer has won the offer of legal aid to sue the manufacturers of a drug which he claims left him depressed and suicidal.

John Allan at his parents' home at Kirby Hill, near Boroughbridge

John Allan, a former pupil of Easingwold School, started using Roaccutane at the age of 32 after years of having acne throughout his teenage years and twenties.

But after completing the 12-week course he started suffering from mood swings and depression and six years later he still has suicidal tendencies.

Now John, 38, is one of four people who have won the right to legal aid in an attempt to get compensation from the manufacturers, Roche Products.

The former customer relations worker for Virgin Atlantic claims he was forced to give up his job in 1995 because of his condition.

Since then he has spent a lot of time with his parents Mary and Norman in Kirby Hill, near Boroughbridge, during regular bouts of depression.

Speaking from their North Yorkshire home, he said: "I have had quite heavy depression. It was back in 1992 that I started getting mood swings.

"I just had the feeling that everything was hopeless and a feeling that I didn't have any drive.

"At first I thought it was work-related but last year I realised it was the drug and I am still getting the side effects.

"It just keeps recurring. Usually when you start to feel all right again it recurs and overcomes you.

"You are looking forward to doing something then the suicidal feelings and depression come back again."

John said he wanted the drug to be banned from being prescribed and now hopes to start work in the fundraising department of a hospice in Brighton, where he now lives.

Roaccutane is prescribed by dermatologists as a last resort to cure acne.

Solicitor Neil Fearn, of the Leeds-based firm Ison Harrison and Co, is representing four people who have been offered legal aid for the case.

The firm believes compensation claims can be filed against the manufacturers under the Consumer Protection Act 1988 which make manufacturers liable for faulty products, whether or not they are negligent.

Mr Fearn said: "We have a number of clients come forward who have had psychiatric problems which we allege result from taking the drug.

"It cures acne and does so very effectively but a side-effect of the drug is depression and there is quite a strong link with people who have attempted to commit suicide."

Mr Fearn said at the moment the case was at the very early stages of investigation and he wanted to find more people who had taken the drugs and suffered side effects.

A spokesman for Roche Products said there was no evidence that Roaccutane had caused anyone to commit suicide.

He said that eight million people worldwide had been treated with Roaccutane since it became available in 1982.

"During this period there have been a small number of reports of depression and, very rarely, suicide. The number is, however, far below the incidence of suicide observed in the general population."

If the legal action is successful the case could open the door for thousands of other sufferers to claim compensation.

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