Rape charity in row over 'sex drug' money

One of Britain's leading rape charities has admitted accepting a donation from the makers of a drug linked to sex attacks.

The Drug Rape Trust was given £2,000 earlier this year by the pharmaceutical giant Roche UK, manufacturers of Rohypnol. The sedative, used legitimately to cure severe insomnia, has been implicated by the Government's Forensic Science Service in at least two rape cases – something Roche readily admits. Illegal in the US since 1984, it is currently a controlled drug in this country.

The donation has triggered furious protests from similar charities, but the chief executive of the Drug Rape Trust, Peter Sturman, insisted that his organisation had done nothing wrong.

Mr Sturman, a serving detective chief inspector, said: "I have called, and will continue to call, for charitable donations from the pharmaceutical and leisure industries, because I believe they have some sort of part to play in this."

But Graham Rhodes, chief executive of the Roofie Foundation, which runs a drug-rape helpline, said: "It's like an anti-smoking group taking money from a big tobacco company. This has got to be sending out a very confusing message about Rohypnol to members of the public and victims alike."

Lisa Longstaff of Women Against Rape, which lost its official funding this week and whose future is now in doubt, said the donation raised bigger questions about how charities were funded.

Mr Sturman, who is the author of a definitive Home Office-funded report into drug-assisted sexual assault, said the donation should not diminish the public's perception of the potential dangers of Rohypnol. He added: "It is absolutely devastating for me to have these sort of allegations made against me when all I'm actually trying to do is help people."

The Charity Commission confirmed it was investigating complaints concerning the donation. A spokeswoman said: "We have contacted the charity about these concerns and will proceed as necessary."