A SCIENTIST researching links between humans and mad cow disease says he has been subject to a campaign of terror for the past year.
Dr Harash Narang has been plagued by a spate of attacks by vandals. Last November, his car brakes were tampered with and the tyres slashed five times.
His Newcastle flat was broken into twice and his research files disturbed while valuables were left untouched.
Mr Ken Bell, a businessman who has ploughed thousands of pounds into Dr Narang's research, says he is worried for the safety of the scientist.
Mr Bell said: "Someone is obviously trying to scare Dr Narang or trying to discredit him by making him sound paranoid but this is not imagination - the attacks have taken place and are very worrying.
Dr Narang was dismissed from the Public Health Laboratory Service two years ago while on the verge of developing his research. He claims he was sacked because he knows too much.
Dr Narang said: "I have identified the cause of CJD and BSE, called nemarvirus. It is clearly proven the nemarvirus can spread between species - from sheep to cattle - so there is no reason why it cannot be passed onto humans.
"I have been forced to travel across the country and even to America - I need somewhere permanent but am being blocked from all sides."
Mr Bell believes the attacks are part of a campaign to stop Dr Narang's research, which identifies cows carrying the disease and could lead to cattle herds being destroyed.