Info & Resources - Briefings

Some Case studies

We are often asked to justify our belief in false allegations, and to give examples of proven false allegations.

Case 1 .... but I never looked after him!

This false allegation was exposed at the trial. The complainant alleged numerous indecent assaults and buggery against the defendant. The complainant’s statement was recorded  one year before the trial. During the trial Social Services records proved beyond doubt that the defendant could not have abused him because he only started working in the Home some years after the complainant left. The complainants’s oral evidence was compelling and convincing in the court. Despite the evidence he continued to maintain his story was true. In his testimony the complainant referred to another resident with whom he had discussed the abuse at the time. This resident, also a complainant also referred to this in his testimony. The judge directed that the Jury find the defendant not guilty in respect of the first complainant’s allegations. However the defendant was found guilty in respect of second’s allegations.

Case 2 .... Injury misattributed

This false allegation was detected following the arrest of the defendant. The complainant made a statement to the police accusing the defendant of breaking two of his fingers. The defendant was arrested and interviewed regarding the allegation. He denied the claim and suggested that the complainant’s medical records be examined. The police did so and consequently found the true circumstances regarding the complainant’s broken fingers.

Case 3 .... a very tall story and a bridge too far

This false allegation was identified at the trial. The complainant alleged that the defendant had seriously sexually assaulted him. It had allegedly occurred in the defendant’s camper van whilst parked under a certain bridge, which the complainant identified to the police very specifically. At the trial it was proven that it was impossible for the camper van to be parked under this low bridge without extensive damage being caused to the roof. The allegation was thrown out at the trial.

Case 4 .... complainant had never met the accused

This false allegation was detected prior to the trial of the second of two defendants. The complainant made allegations against at least two workers at different schools. Defendant 1 was convicted on the testimony of the complainant and is now serving a long prison sentence. Prior to the trial of defendant 2 it was discovered that the complainant was not resident at the second school when defendant 2 was working there. The police withdrew the charge from defendant 2 and charged the complainant with perjury. He was convicted and is now serving a custodial sentence.

Case 5 .... Witness to assault could not have been present

This allegation was not detected prior to, or at trial. The complainant alleged he had been seriously sexually assaulted by the defendant. The defendant did not work on the Unit where the complainant was resident, but came over as relief for staff who were on holiday. The complainant alleged the sexual assaults happened after he had complained and asked for protection from another resident who had bullied him. The police claimed the defendant had worked at the school for 4 years and the defendant was unable to challenge that. The defendant was convicted and given a long custodial sentence. The solicitors, whom the defendant instructed for an appeal, investigated his employment history with great difficulty; because there were very few records. They eventually proved that the defendant had only worked at the school for 13 months at the most. This meant that the complainant was only resident with the defendant for a maximum of 4 weeks. The resident who had allegedly bullied him did not arrive at the school until 1 year later so the complainant’s story was no longer credible.

Case 6 ..... an accuser swayed by the police to make false allegation recants

This accuser voluntarily made contact with F.A.C.T. after he discovered that the person whom he had accused was serving a lengthy prison sentence. When initially approached by the police he made 3 statements over a period of a year. On the initial meeting the police identified the person whom they were investigating. The police officers made it clear that they did not expect an immediate response to the explicit question as to whether he had been abused. The accuser is serving a long prison sentence and has been in prison for many years. On the second contact he was again reminded who the defendant was and it was explained that several complaints of abuse had been made against the defendant. Civil action against the Local Authority was discussed by the police and the accuser was reminded that a compensation claim would be best served by a conviction. The accuser states that the police officers hints about the defendant’s guilt swayed him into making a false complaint, along with the compensation and the opportunity to claim an abusive adolescence at his forthcoming parole hearing and optimise the chance of its success. Whilst making the allegations the Police never questioned his truthfulness and were wholly receptive to his abuse claim, despite the fact that he had previously denied any abuse.

Above are just 6 examples of former care home residents who told lies. F.A.C.T .have collated many more. The complainant’s motives for making the false allegation have not been established. In all the cases the police failed to identify the allegations as being false, and in most cases they proceeded to Court. It must be asked that, if the police are incapable of detecting false allegations that can be easily proven, how do the police distinguish between truth and falsehood, and  genuine victims and liars?