A police officer is facing an inquiry after a Burton man was cleared of sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl.
Graham Laban, 45, who was also accused of indecently assaulting a teenager, was cleared of all charges on the fifth day of his trial at Derby Crown Court yesterday.
Judge Tony Mitchell instructed the jury to find Laban not guilty after cross examination of a police officer revealed the case had 'not been properly investigated'.
He said: "I think this matter is one of great concern to me and everyone involved. It’s a travesty of justice if there is truth in the allegations.
"If there is no truth in the allegations then if seems the police officer has become part and parcel of collusion with the complainant.
"I am going to invite the chief constable to make an inquiry into the investigation of the case."
It emerged during the trial that Dc Susan Sallis had not disclosed 'absolutely vital' evidence to solicitors both prosecuting and defending the case and that the initial complaint to Derbyshire Police was made by a friend of the family who was a serving police officer at the time — information not disclosed by Dc Sallis, an officer with 14 years' experience, six in CID.
Interviews with the complainant were also conducted with other parties present and Dc Sallis’ notekeeping was condemned as 'appalling'.
Judge Mitchell said: "I have never known an officer’s notebook so useless to me in a trial. I find it appalling. It’s like extracting wisdom teeth that don’t want to come out. "Have you taken an oath? I have never had to say that to a police officer in my life."
Laban, of Postern Road, Tatenhill, had denied two counts of gross indecency against the girl, now 24, who cannot be named for legal reasons, between February 16, 1990 and February 15, 1993.
He was also cleared of a further charge of indecency against the same child between February 16, 1990 and February 15, 1993, and one of indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1992.
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