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| Liam Allan: Met Police apologise to 22-year-old man falsely accused of rape after failing to disclose crucial text messages | Liam Allan: Met Police apologise to 22-year-old man falsely accused of rape after failing to disclose crucial text messages |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have apologised to Liam Allan after a rape case against him collapsed following the discovery of crucial text message evidence that had not been disclosed to his legal team. | The Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have apologised to Liam Allan after a rape case against him collapsed following the discovery of crucial text message evidence that had not been disclosed to his legal team. |
| The 22-year-old was cleared after lawyers were handed a mobile phone download containing previously undisclosed text messages which cast doubt on the claim the sex was non-consensual. | The 22-year-old was cleared after lawyers were handed a mobile phone download containing previously undisclosed text messages which cast doubt on the claim the sex was non-consensual. |
| Although the CPS had submitted a short text conversation between Mr Allan and the complainant as evidence, they had not provided the whole download from the alleged victim’s phone until days before the trial collapsed. | Although the CPS had submitted a short text conversation between Mr Allan and the complainant as evidence, they had not provided the whole download from the alleged victim’s phone until days before the trial collapsed. |
| A judge threw out the charges against Mr Allan after his lawyer discovered messages showing the claimant wanted and enjoyed the sex which she later claimed was non-consensual. | A judge threw out the charges against Mr Allan after his lawyer discovered messages showing the claimant wanted and enjoyed the sex which she later claimed was non-consensual. |
| The joint-review said: “There is no evidence that the phone download was withheld deliberately by the OIC (officer in the case) or CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) prosecutors. | The joint-review said: “There is no evidence that the phone download was withheld deliberately by the OIC (officer in the case) or CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) prosecutors. |
| “The disclosure problems in this case were caused by a combination of error, lack of challenge, and lack of knowledge.” | “The disclosure problems in this case were caused by a combination of error, lack of challenge, and lack of knowledge.” |
| Commander Richard Smith said he and Claire Lindley, chief crown prosecutor for London South, met with Mr Allan “where he received a personal apology from us both”. | |
| He said he was “really pleased to have that opportunity to meet with him face-to-face, allow him to read the report and apologise for the errors that were made”. | |
| The officer in the case admitted he was mistaken in his belief he had looked through an entire download of more than 57,000 messages in the alleged victim’s phone. | The officer in the case admitted he was mistaken in his belief he had looked through an entire download of more than 57,000 messages in the alleged victim’s phone. |
| Ms Lindley said: “This is not about resources. This is about a mistake being made by an officer and a lack of check and challenge by the prosecutor involved.” | Ms Lindley said: “This is not about resources. This is about a mistake being made by an officer and a lack of check and challenge by the prosecutor involved.” |
| Mr Smith added: “The amount of cases he was investigating at the time, he feels, was a contributing factor to the mistake he made, compounded by the lack of recording and mistakes in the system.” | Mr Smith added: “The amount of cases he was investigating at the time, he feels, was a contributing factor to the mistake he made, compounded by the lack of recording and mistakes in the system.” |
| Last week, the CPS announced it was reviewing all live rape and sexual offence cases after a string of defendants facing such allegations had the charges against them dropped when critical evidence emerged at the last minute. | Last week, the CPS announced it was reviewing all live rape and sexual offence cases after a string of defendants facing such allegations had the charges against them dropped when critical evidence emerged at the last minute. |
| Mr Smith confirmed the Metropolitan Police is reviewing 600 cases of rape and sexual assault. | Mr Smith confirmed the Metropolitan Police is reviewing 600 cases of rape and sexual assault. |
| Thousands more are under review nationally, the CPS said. | Thousands more are under review nationally, the CPS said. |
| Mr Smith said: “We have moved in 120 officers to assist with the review of the 600 cases we have which are post-charge at the moment.” | Mr Smith said: “We have moved in 120 officers to assist with the review of the 600 cases we have which are post-charge at the moment.” |
| Ms Lindley said: “The 600 cases live in the system presently are still being reviewed. That process has not yet finished.” | Ms Lindley said: “The 600 cases live in the system presently are still being reviewed. That process has not yet finished.” |
| “During the review some cases have given cause for concern. Some cases are discontinued in the normal course of events.” | “During the review some cases have given cause for concern. Some cases are discontinued in the normal course of events.” |
| Although she could not give a figure on how many cases are involved in a national review of all rape cases, she said: “There must be thousands”. | Although she could not give a figure on how many cases are involved in a national review of all rape cases, she said: “There must be thousands”. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |