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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fraudulent forensic expert jailed | Fraudulent forensic expert jailed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A bogus forensic psychologist who supplied evidence in hundreds of court cases has been jailed for five years. | A bogus forensic psychologist who supplied evidence in hundreds of court cases has been jailed for five years. |
| Gene Morrison, 48, of Hyde, was described in court as a charlatan who had tricked judges, lawyers and police. | Gene Morrison, 48, of Hyde, was described in court as a charlatan who had tricked judges, lawyers and police. |
| About 700 cases he worked on over 26 years, across the UK, will now have to be re-assessed, Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told. | |
| Judge Jeffrey Lewis said Morrison, who was convicted of 20 charges, was an "inveterate and compulsive liar". | |
| The charges included obtaining a money transfer by deception, obtaining property by deception, perverting the course of justice and perjury. | The charges included obtaining a money transfer by deception, obtaining property by deception, perverting the course of justice and perjury. |
| Your business was built on a whole series of lies Judge Jeffrey Lewis | Your business was built on a whole series of lies Judge Jeffrey Lewis |
| He was cleared of one count of obtaining a money transfer by deception. | He was cleared of one count of obtaining a money transfer by deception. |
| The court heard Morrison was paid at least £250,000 in taxpayers' money for giving apparently expert advice, but had actually bought his qualifications from a sham university. | The court heard Morrison was paid at least £250,000 in taxpayers' money for giving apparently expert advice, but had actually bought his qualifications from a sham university. |
| Morrison's firm, Hyde-based Criminal and Forensic Investigations Bureau (CFIB), had been hired to give evidence in court. Many of his reports were cut and pasted from the internet. | Morrison's firm, Hyde-based Criminal and Forensic Investigations Bureau (CFIB), had been hired to give evidence in court. Many of his reports were cut and pasted from the internet. |
| Judge Lewis said: "You yourself had no expertise worth speaking of. Your business was built on a whole series of lies. | Judge Lewis said: "You yourself had no expertise worth speaking of. Your business was built on a whole series of lies. |
| Morrison worked out of an office in Hyde | Morrison worked out of an office in Hyde |
| "My impression of you as an inveterate and compulsive liar is borne out by the verdict of the jury. | "My impression of you as an inveterate and compulsive liar is borne out by the verdict of the jury. |
| "Your activities in various ways struck at the heart of the judicial process. | "Your activities in various ways struck at the heart of the judicial process. |
| "You did not care about the truth, you were wholly dishonest, you did not care of the consequences of your actions to the administration of justice." | "You did not care about the truth, you were wholly dishonest, you did not care of the consequences of your actions to the administration of justice." |
| Morrison admitted to police he began working as a forensic investigator in 1977 after buying certificates by post for a BSc in Forensic Science, a Masters with excellence in Forensic Investigation and a Doctorate in Criminology. | Morrison admitted to police he began working as a forensic investigator in 1977 after buying certificates by post for a BSc in Forensic Science, a Masters with excellence in Forensic Investigation and a Doctorate in Criminology. |
| It "looked easier" than going to a real university, he told the court. At one client meeting, Morrison wore a fluorescent jacket with the words Forensic Investigator emblazoned across the back. | It "looked easier" than going to a real university, he told the court. At one client meeting, Morrison wore a fluorescent jacket with the words Forensic Investigator emblazoned across the back. |
| Gene Morrison has worked on court cases across the UK | Gene Morrison has worked on court cases across the UK |
| His complete ignorance of his supposed field of expertise quickly became apparent - and he was promptly sacked. | His complete ignorance of his supposed field of expertise quickly became apparent - and he was promptly sacked. |
| During his four-week trial he insisted on being called Dr Morrison. | During his four-week trial he insisted on being called Dr Morrison. |
| Det Supt Martin Bottomley, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), dubbed Morrison a "Walter Mitty-type character". | Det Supt Martin Bottomley, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), dubbed Morrison a "Walter Mitty-type character". |
| He added: "His entire working life has been based on a web of lies and deceit. | He added: "His entire working life has been based on a web of lies and deceit. |
| "He brazenly stood in front of judges and juries up and down the country and lied under oath repeatedly. | "He brazenly stood in front of judges and juries up and down the country and lied under oath repeatedly. |
| "Morrison has shamelessly fleeced innocent victims, including a grieving family, out of many thousands of pounds and, in the process, has hoodwinked courts across the country." | "Morrison has shamelessly fleeced innocent victims, including a grieving family, out of many thousands of pounds and, in the process, has hoodwinked courts across the country." |
| GMP will be sending a report to the Attorney General on Morrison's work to see if action is needed. | GMP will be sending a report to the Attorney General on Morrison's work to see if action is needed. |