The witch hunt, false accusations and the damage so far..

[steve22]

Massive Thank You

Guys (And Girls),

What can i say? Huge thank you for the supporting words and wisdom so far. In all honesty we are now in the 2-3 week mark since my arrest and bail isn't up until the end of Feb but i'm feeling a lot better. Ive started getting to sleep again before 5 in the morning (thank god) and getting up at a reasonable time- which has been difficult with very little to get out of bed for. I can't say im feeling at all depressed and i think im already accepting my fate regardless.

This is sad though really when the reality is that my best case scenario is starting my life and potentially a career all over again after enduring the shameful stigma of being a "suspected rapist" and worst case clearly being my incarceration. I'm no fool and despite the polices reassurance that innocent people dont go to prison i am sure some are unfortunate enough to slip through the net and im also prepared for this.

At this point ive done my homework from a legal point of view and gone through the embarrassing stage of answering questions from friends and ex girlfriends/partners (not the ""victims"" obviously) who have had the police turning up on their doorstep to question my sexual habits. Luckily despite the allegations and parting with most of my ex's on bad terms i have a good number of them in my corner. All my family and friends have also supported me without question.

The most annoying thing for me at this point is the important question:
- Am I going to be bailed or remanded until a (if any) court date, upon my return to the police station?

From my research I can gather this isnt really a yes/no answer although it does look bad from the facts. Ive discovered that only 5% of charged persons are tried at the crown court, for the most serious offences- murder, robbery and rape and it seems that your chances for bail until court rapidly drop once you are in this category. I am hoping that the fact I would happily surrender my passport, have no criminal record and that there isnt any medical evidence will work in my favour. Would just be nice to know as I would obviously want to tie up anything and speak to people before any sort of long standing incarceration. Can anyone provide their own personal examples so i can have an idea of what my odds are like?

As the days go on im convincing myself more and more than there is no way a Jury will consider a guilty verdict given the alleged victims' motives, the fact they have all been in touch, tried to start a family with me months after i had allegedly raped them etc.etc.

Thanks again for all of your help and advice, ill be keeping a closer eye on the post now that i have acquired an ancient laptop while the police enjoy holding the rest of my possessions!

-Steve

[Casehardened]

The most annoying thing for me at this point is the important question:
- Am I going to be bailed or remanded until a (if any) court date, upon my return to the police station?

The general presumption is that you should be bailed unless there are serious arguments against this.

If it isn't your second 'offence', don't attempt to contact witnesses, haven't got family or contacts abroad, and you come across as a reasonably law-abiding individual who won't skip bail, then the likelihood is that you will be rebailed until disposal whatever and whenever that might be (and none of us can really answer this question though your solicitor might well have a view)

[steve22]

Thanks casehardened,

This is the issue that it doesnt really appear to be an exact science. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail and all that though! Following the acceptance from my solicitor for attending the return from bail, he also added that there doesn't seem to be much else they can do until then. Although i would like to sit down for an hour and go through the case privately with them before hand it looks unlikely this would happen as per another post that states if you are on legal aid, until being charged the solicitor can only claim back the expenses and time for attending an interview at the station.

Hmmm...

[Faith]

It all depends on the solicitor. Some may give up their time as goodwill but generally this wouldn't be expected as you are right in saying, the legal aid only counts for their attendance at the police station with you when there is no charge.

There is very little you could go through at this stage anyway, I'd imagine. That's not to say that you can't prepare (say by drawing up a timeline or searching social media for evidence) but a solicitor generally will not be able to predict what the outcome of the CPSs' deliberations will be and nor can they really build a case until disclosure is made.

Sorry that this is not what you want to hear. I know that the waiting is traumatic.

[Izzy]

Thanks casehardened,

This is the issue that it doesnt really appear to be an exact science. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail and all that though! Following the acceptance from my solicitor for attending the return from bail, he also added that there doesn't seem to be much else they can do until then. Although i would like to sit down for an hour and go through the case privately with them before hand it looks unlikely this would happen as per another post that states if you are on legal aid, until being charged the solicitor can only claim back the expenses and time for attending an interview at the station.

Hmmm...

Even if you offer to pay for that hour privately, as Faith says there isn't much you can go through as the Solicitor won't have had any disclosure.

This is sad though really when the reality is that my best case scenario is starting my life and potentially a career all over again after enduring the shameful stigma of being a "suspected rapist" and worst case clearly being my incarceration. I'm no fool and despite the polices reassurance that innocent people dont go to prison i am sure some are unfortunate enough to slip through the net and im also prepared for this.

I think most people feel like this at the beginning, it's stage two - a horrible feeling but it does get a bit better with time - the final stage is when that goes away and anger sets in. As for your career, it shouldn't effect it as you aren't in a place that requires an enhanced disclosure and I.T. is a good career to be in.

The waiting game is horrible but use it to do a bit of Detective work - any information you can glean and research the best Solicitors in your area.

[lawlessone2009]

Steve 22...

I would be almost certain that you will not be remanded. You needn't fear this.

As for your passport, you'll already be on a system somewhere so should you decide to attempt to get on a plane I'd imagine you'll be invited into a little room to give an explanation. The passport is merely a piece of paper that the government make a lot of money from, doesn't actually stop you leaving the country BUT most people use it to do so through conventional means. The passport identifies YOU and makes their systems easier to work and control.

I am happy that your sleep is calming down. I'm still having major issues with sleep. You may feel as if stress and depression are gone but your tolerance levels have merely increased and also the immediate stress/depression has reduced as you've become more 'aware' that the situation you face is not as bad/alarming as you were once led to believe..... You've changed, trust me. You can't not change.

[lawlessone2009]

I third that, and lawless, just celebrating your 666th post with you.
I started reading your first pages the other day

Hope steve 22, the OP here is okay


Jm

God... I never even noticed....

[Faith]

I'm tempted to delete three of your posts so that you remain on 666 forever...it suits you

[Boys don't cry]

Steve.

Sorry to read about your turmoil after the shock but you will get used to it progressively.
While being on bail, you shouldn't think about the worse case scenario but prepare your defense.
You will sleep more and feel "better" with time.

You have been given excellent advice by everyone.
I am confident that you won't be kept in remand because obviously you don't represent a threat to the community or yourself.
It is true that any solicitor won't be able to help you much at the moment (even if privately paid)because they won't have the disclosure of your case.

Once again you need to find evidence for your defense:
Can you prove that they tried to start a family with you a few months after what they are accusing you.
You obviously know that they contacted each other but you need to try to get some material evidence.
It will be easier for your case if unfortunately you get charged.

One more point about your passport.
Afew weeks before the trial I was still able to fly to the continent.
My barrister only warned me that even if I was not going to Court,the judgement would still take place without me.

Keep faith,try to get some sleep and when you feel quite normal and have some spare time,use it wisely.
Take care.

[lawlessone2009]

I'm tempted to delete three of your posts so that you remain on 666 forever...it suits you

I'm counting up up and away....



Long as you don't delete ME........

[just married]

No further advice, Steve. Looks like you have the best.
Fingers crossed and good luck for you when you have to return to the police station.

When I was waiting to answer bail, I produced 40 typed pages of gathered information, facts, dates, times, incidents, logged photographs that were relevant.

It's true that a solicitor can't do much unless there's a charge. Remember that there's no charge. Only allegations.

Lawlessone is quite right though in that you can't not change.

[steve22]

I do have a further question if anyone can be any help...

https://www.gov.uk/arrested-your-rig...youre-arrested

The second line of "Your rights in custody" says that you have the right to tell someone where you are.

My only request was that my manager at work was contacted and i was assured this would be done. The arresting officer even took my managers name and mobile number. When i was released 14 hours later, one of the interviewing detectives came out while i was having a cigarette and awaiting a lift home to give me a "heads up" that work did know where i was, not because they called work but because they turned up at the end of the day with a search warrant.

As a result i was dismissed for being AWOL.

As far as im concerned, my rights were just outright ignored. Will this have any impact on my case or is it basically just a case of "You are free to make a complaint" where the best case is i will get an apology?

[lawlessone2009]

I do have a further question if anyone can be any help...

https://www.gov.uk/arrested-your-rig...youre-arrested

The second line of "Your rights in custody" says that you have the right to tell someone where you are.

My only request was that my manager at work was contacted and i was assured this would be done. The arresting officer even took my managers name and mobile number. When i was released 14 hours later, one of the interviewing detectives came out while i was having a cigarette and awaiting a lift home to give me a "heads up" that work did know where i was, not because they called work but because they turned up at the end of the day with a search warrant.

As a result i was dismissed for being AWOL.

As far as im concerned, my rights were just outright ignored. Will this have any impact on my case or is it basically just a case of "You are free to make a complaint" where the best case is i will get an apology?

Very hard to answer that one unfortunately.

You could pursue an 'unfair dismissal' surely as I'd believe there were sufficient grounds there if they'd simply turned round and sacked you without at least allowing you to explain yourself and them having went through formal disciplinary procedures without remedy.

It's a bit hard to get authorised leave in the circumstances you found yourself in... Has your work simply reacted in the manner they have due to the circumstances that they found themselves in???

[steve22]

The unfair dismissal option isnt there. Because i was still within a probation period at work, according to a solicitor who specialises with employment cases, i have next to no rights and they can pretty much get rid of me if they dont like my face.

I dont have an issue with that but I do still think someone needs to answer for the damage in that department, whether its the police force for not executing my legal rights or the accusers for the original lies putting me in that situation..

[Faith]

The fact that you were on probation does significantly change matters unfortunately in employment law.

However, if your right to have someone informed of your whereabouts was not exercised by police then you could have the basis of a complaint for not following procedure to the IPCC