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Case dropped in child rape trial | Case dropped in child rape trial |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Two men have walked free from court after allegations they raped a child at a Perthshire caravan park were dropped. | Two men have walked free from court after allegations they raped a child at a Perthshire caravan park were dropped. |
Neil Kendall and Ian Davidson had been accused of acting with others in raping and sexually abusing Dana Fowley, in 1990, when she was 10 years old. | Neil Kendall and Ian Davidson had been accused of acting with others in raping and sexually abusing Dana Fowley, in 1990, when she was 10 years old. |
Ms Fowley, now 29, had waived her right to anonymity. Her mother, Caroline Dunsmore, changed her evidence to deny having seen the pair abuse her child. | Ms Fowley, now 29, had waived her right to anonymity. Her mother, Caroline Dunsmore, changed her evidence to deny having seen the pair abuse her child. |
The accused men, both from Edinburgh, have always denied the charges. | The accused men, both from Edinburgh, have always denied the charges. |
In a statement, Ms Fowley criticised her mother for "protecting her friends by lying in court, putting all of Britain's children in danger". | In a statement, Ms Fowley criticised her mother for "protecting her friends by lying in court, putting all of Britain's children in danger". |
The case collapsed after 46-year-old Dunsmore, who is serving a 12-year jail sentence for the abuse of Ms Fowley, gave the High Court in Dunfermline contradictory accounts from the witness box. | The case collapsed after 46-year-old Dunsmore, who is serving a 12-year jail sentence for the abuse of Ms Fowley, gave the High Court in Dunfermline contradictory accounts from the witness box. |
'Britain's children' | |
On the first day of the trial, she told jurors that she had watched television while her daughter was raped by the men at a chalet at Abernethy Caravan Park. | On the first day of the trial, she told jurors that she had watched television while her daughter was raped by the men at a chalet at Abernethy Caravan Park. |
However, on Monday, Dunsmore said she had been "mistaken" in her account and that neither Mr Kendall or Mr Davidson had sex with her daughter. | However, on Monday, Dunsmore said she had been "mistaken" in her account and that neither Mr Kendall or Mr Davidson had sex with her daughter. |
Ian Davidson (pictured) and Neil Kendall denied the charges | |
The Crown said Dunsmore's evidence had been an essential part of their case. | |
The judge Lady Stacey acquitted both Mr Kendall and Mr Davidson of the charges against them and said they were allowed to go free. | |
Outside the court, Dana Fowley told reporters: "Caroline Dunsmore has abused me along with a string of paedophiles since the age of five. | |
"And even although she is doing a 12-year jail sentence, she still is the ring-leader protecting her crew of friends by lying in court. | |
"She has put Britain's children in danger. I call on all mothers and women to stop giving her peace. She never gave me a day's peace. | |
"She should be given Myra Hindley's cell in a secure unit." | |
Dunsmore, along with two other men, was convicted of abusing her daughter in 2007. |