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| Ex Cleveland PC Sultan Alam awarded £400,000 damages | Ex Cleveland PC Sultan Alam awarded £400,000 damages |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A former Cleveland Police officer who was wrongfully sent to prison has been awarded almost £400,000 after an 18-year legal fight. | A former Cleveland Police officer who was wrongfully sent to prison has been awarded almost £400,000 after an 18-year legal fight. |
| Former traffic officer Sultan Alam, 48, was jailed for 18 months in 1996 for conspiracy to steal car parts, but was cleared by the Court of Appeal in 2007. | Former traffic officer Sultan Alam, 48, was jailed for 18 months in 1996 for conspiracy to steal car parts, but was cleared by the Court of Appeal in 2007. |
| Cleveland Police had admitted the malicious prosecution of Mr Alam, at Leeds County Court. | |
| Judge Andrew Keyser QC said the force had tried to "destroy" his reputation. | Judge Andrew Keyser QC said the force had tried to "destroy" his reputation. |
| No immediate comment was forthcoming from the force. | No immediate comment was forthcoming from the force. |
| As well as damages, Mr Alam will also receive compensation for loss of earnings which have yet to be calculated. | As well as damages, Mr Alam will also receive compensation for loss of earnings which have yet to be calculated. |
| After being wrongfully jailed, Mr Alam was reinstated to Cleveland Police, but retired in 2009 on health grounds. | After being wrongfully jailed, Mr Alam was reinstated to Cleveland Police, but retired in 2009 on health grounds. |
| 'Deliberate target' | 'Deliberate target' |
| The court heard how the officer, who served half of his prison sentence, was "stitchedup" by fellow officers as a result of industrial tribunal proceedings he launched in 1993, complaining of racial discrimination. | The court heard how the officer, who served half of his prison sentence, was "stitchedup" by fellow officers as a result of industrial tribunal proceedings he launched in 1993, complaining of racial discrimination. |
| In 2003, four fellow officers involved in Mr Alam's original prosecution were charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and other offences, but were acquitted. | In 2003, four fellow officers involved in Mr Alam's original prosecution were charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and other offences, but were acquitted. |
| In his judgement published on Wednesday, Judge Keyser said: "The claimant knew that he was not the unfortunate victim of an accidental miscarriage of justice but that he was the deliberate target of a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, the aim of which was to destroy his reputation and his career. | In his judgement published on Wednesday, Judge Keyser said: "The claimant knew that he was not the unfortunate victim of an accidental miscarriage of justice but that he was the deliberate target of a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, the aim of which was to destroy his reputation and his career. |
| "That is not an incidental feature of this case but is at the heart of the harm suffered by the claimant. | "That is not an incidental feature of this case but is at the heart of the harm suffered by the claimant. |
| "The award of aggravated damages reflects the fact that that downfall was deliberately brought about by the concerted action of police officers." | "The award of aggravated damages reflects the fact that that downfall was deliberately brought about by the concerted action of police officers." |
| Earlier this month after hearing he would receive damages, Mr Alam said: "I'm relieved it's over." | Earlier this month after hearing he would receive damages, Mr Alam said: "I'm relieved it's over." |