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Man jailed for sex attack cleared | Man jailed for sex attack cleared |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A married man who was jailed for five years for a violent sex attack has been cleared on appeal after it emerged that his alleged victim made it up. | A married man who was jailed for five years for a violent sex attack has been cleared on appeal after it emerged that his alleged victim made it up. |
Warren Blackwell, 36, of Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire, was convicted of indecently assaulting the woman after a New Year's Eve Party in 1998. | Warren Blackwell, 36, of Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire, was convicted of indecently assaulting the woman after a New Year's Eve Party in 1998. |
The Appeal Court said the conviction was unsafe after hearing that the complainant had an "ability to lie". | The Appeal Court said the conviction was unsafe after hearing that the complainant had an "ability to lie". |
After the hearing Mr Blackwell said the ordeal had made him "a very angry" man. | |
In a statement he added: "I'd like to thank my family, mother and father who spent what to us was a massive amount of money to see this day come true. | |
'Similar allegations' | 'Similar allegations' |
"My two children Holly and Liam and my partner Tanya who have stuck by me throughout and ever since I have been released have remained at my side even though this ordeal has made me a very angry person indeed." | |
Mr Blackwell was jailed for three years at Northampton Crown Court in 1999, but the sentence was later found to be "unduly lenient" and was increased to five years. | Mr Blackwell was jailed for three years at Northampton Crown Court in 1999, but the sentence was later found to be "unduly lenient" and was increased to five years. |
He was also placed on the sex offenders' register. | He was also placed on the sex offenders' register. |
On Tuesday, Mr Justice Tugendhat, sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Silber, concluded his conviction was "unsafe", after a report from the Criminal Cases Review Commission. | On Tuesday, Mr Justice Tugendhat, sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Silber, concluded his conviction was "unsafe", after a report from the Criminal Cases Review Commission. |
The commission referred to new evidence which gave rise to a "very real doubt" over whether the complainant was a victim of any assault at all. | The commission referred to new evidence which gave rise to a "very real doubt" over whether the complainant was a victim of any assault at all. |
The court was told the complainant had made "strikingly similar allegations" about other sex attacks, had an "ability to lie" and a possible propensity to self harm. | The court was told the complainant had made "strikingly similar allegations" about other sex attacks, had an "ability to lie" and a possible propensity to self harm. |
The court recommended that the complainant's details be shared with police forces across the country in case she tried to repeat the accusations. |
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