2 days Into this hell.......

[Ghost biscuit]

Hi Everyone,

Have read a few post and I know all accusations are different.
I am on bail now for 2 counts of historic rape on my ex partner around ten years ago. I know why this has been done. I've been accused of everything now and I mean everything even to the extent of molesting my two young children which despite all the ss involvement and police etc. They were still living with me until Monday. She wanted the children living with her and now she has succeeded. So not only is the bail doing my head but not having my children living here is so upsetting. Anyway I cannot afford to have a private solicitor as some are luckily enough to do so but I should be able to get legal aid does anyone know any god sols that deal with false accusations in the Manchester or Greater Manchester? I am also willing to travel out of these areas.

Just thought I would say the duty sol seemed ok which surprised me. What did surprise me was that when I was being driven to the station they told my partner on the phone that I would be bailed by teatime that's before I was questioned Is this usual practice??. As usual the police seemed sympathetic but have not read to much into this. The duty sol said that the police had doubts in her side of things and the police interviewing kept saying that I might not even be charged. On a side note it was 2 women police officers and a female sol I was shocked how nice they were considering my alleged crime is against a woman. I was open honest in tears at one various points and in shock. They were not harsh nor aggressive whilst carrying out the interview and no trick questions. Was advised to communicate and the no comment was not needed.

They did a check against her name and found nothing then I said she has been convicted of stabbing me and did probation as a suspended prison sentence ages ago. Again they was very interested in getting this information and keenly discussing this with me.

Bail conditions were to be no unsupervised access to anyone under 18 however this distressed me as my daughter was staying this weekend she is 17 had a word with the officer and she talked another and they both said that it would be lowered to 16 so that she can stay. On a lighter note I can still fly out on holiday in August they don't have an issue with that yay. But bailed till 1 September. The police officer said that she could bail for four weeks but didn't want to waste my time coming down that's why its Sept. Said she would do all she can to get this moving again not reading to much into that.

It really comes down to her word against mine tbh and reading some horror stories on the net most of the time the guys have been found guilty so that's one my head in.

However I have two fights one with the family court and one if this goes to court, which I am preparing for as I know its could be a good few years inside.

There is a lot more to this but the duty sol rang me up just before 6 last night to have a chat not even a withheld number never had that before, as she wasn't even in work. We had a discussion and she said that she does not think I will be charged from what the police officers were saying as they were already finding discrepancies with the other parties statement.

The duty sol is from Burton Copland in Manchester does anyone know much of this firm.

My partner and family know what she is like and are standing by my side as well as my older children and my ex wife whom is willing to go to court if she has to. Glad I get to see my older daughter this weekend. And might even be seeing my youngest two in the future even if its at a contact centre.


Thanks for reading this any advice would be warmly welcome.

[Faith]

I am sorry to hear what you are going through; it is a very traumatic experience.
It seems that your accuser's motives are quite clear and that the police are keeping a relatively open mind about this, but do not give them any information without running it past your solicitor. Even when the police are appearing to be on your side, it isn't necessarily the case.

It is normal practice to be bailed on the same day and unfortunately no indication of whether or not a charge will come; that decision lies with the CPS and they base it on the information supplied to them by the police.

Please take a look at our sticky thread for recommended solicitors.

[Ghost biscuit]

Thanks Faith

I have not seen a solicitor on the sticky for Manchester, however I have spoken to a solicitor from Olliers and after explaining to him about the case he said what the police and duty solicitor had said in his opinion, he feels that this is going to get nowhere based on the information I have and discrepancies in her fabricated statement. So that's three people saying virtually the same thing. Still hasn't really lifted the anxious feeling.

However he said that Copeland Solicitors are a good firm the only issue is that on legal aid not much work is done before any charge kind is brought against me because its legal aid, I.e. no leg work until a charge is brought then the leg work starts. That's because my file is left there in a draw until the light is green. Only because the solicitor is not being paid for any work they do. He advised that I would need to do leg work and bring evidence to the next bail hearing which could help with charges being dropped as he thinks it has grounds to be dropped.

The only issue is funding which can be expensive. I asked him how much he gave me a rough guide. In a moment of decision making I'm thinking id rather pay now and have a chance of the cps not charging me than being charged and having to do all the leg work then.

I just hope I have made the right decision.
Its crazy finding a specialist in Manchester dealing with rape cases.

Does anyone think I have done the wrong thing here.

Thanks.

[Casehardened]

He advised that I would need to do leg work and bring evidence to the next bail hearing which could help with charges being dropped as he thinks it has grounds to be dropped.

Hi,

Please note what Faith has told you about consulting a [specialist] solicitor before handing contradictory evidence to the police. If you do this what will happen is that they will reinterview your ex about the 'discrepancies' in her statement that your evidence has highlighted.

You then run the risk that she will modify her statement accordingly, thus nullifying your evidence. I can quite understand your wish to prevent the matter going as far as charge; in fact I did exactly what you are proposing, however there has been a sea-change in CPS attitudes in the last year or so, but even so at that time my solicitor's words of advice were to "keep your powder dry"!

(I note that a solicitor has already advised you differently; however from his comment regarding the 'next bail hearing' he may not be a specialist in defending false accusations as the likelihood is that it will be a rebail)

[Ghost biscuit]

Thanks

I thought that he would be a specialist solicitor as he is a partner in Olliers. They are top ten in the country thought they would be best.

Confused now what to do I don't know any specialist solicitor in Manchester.... Does anyone????

Thanks in advanced.

[Boys don't cry]

Hello Ghost Biscuit and welcome to the forum.

You wrote that you are considering paying in advance the solicitors.

Unfortunately before being charged they won't be able to work on your case as they won't have the final disclosure.
So there is no point spending your money.

In case you have to go back to the police station for an interview you will still be entitled to a free solicitor.
My advice would be to collect as much evidence as you can and share it only with a solicitor but not the police.

I wouldn't even expose all the evidence found unless charged.

Hopefully it is going to get nowhere.

All the best.

[Ghost biscuit]

Thankyou for this

Thank you for your advice,

However I would feel a bit more upbeat if a specialist solicitor could be recommended from the Manchester area, and after reading things on this site I'm bricking it... Then I read success stories and i feel ok. I guess I'm just dreading the worst. Always have been a worry kind of person. So please can someone recommend a specialist in or around the Manchester area???? or should I stick with the duty solicitor that I had. Please advise if you can....

[Ghost biscuit]

Different solicitor

Hi everyone,

After considering a different solicitor from a firm called Maidments, again explaining all the circumstances he feels that the case will likely not get to court, however he did say brace for the worst then at least you can at least try to be ready.

He said there is not a lot he can do at the minute because of like others have said no charges have been brought forward. He did say that he will phone up several times between and Sept to keep getting updates from the police without cost to me. I feel a bit confident with him although still anxious.

He said there is motive from the offset and with all the past allegations of the children it was obvious that again this was only her motive as she had plenty of time to speak to someone from ss or the courts about what she alleges I have done. Add to the fact that she gave an incorrection of her name to the police so they would not find her offences on me. which the police were pissed about.

The list goes on but at least she gave a video interview with inaccuracies on them. A video interview cannot be changed. Plus the fact that every time on the allegations the police put on their reports that they believe all this is to do with her getting the children back to live with her.

I feel in a slightly better place now but I know all this can change....

Thank you for reading this and my heart goes out to everyone that has to endure all of this...... just as I am doing right now....

Regards.

[Ghost biscuit]

Hi

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for taking the time out to read my thread. Things have not changed still on bail, still wanting to challenge my bail condition.. no luck so far...have not found a solicitor that will do this.

Still haven't had any papers served from X about the children so still haven't seen the children. Feeling low at times but I am not going to let her get me down and I will go down with a fight she will not take my dignity away. In the end no matter if it gets to court I will not give in will not give up hope and will not plead guilty to something which is a total fabrication and a lie so she gets the children. They are older now so not long to wait until they are teenagers and can tell mum what for.

Regards,

Ghost....B

[is there justice?]

Can't imagine what it's like to be cut off from your children - keep strong, you'll get through

[Ghost biscuit]

Thanks

Hi,

Thanks for that message of support. Its hard but I will get to see them again.

Regards,

Ghost....B

[Ghost biscuit]

Quick Up date

Hi Everyone,

Thought I would give everyone a quick update, Well 4 weeks in this nightmare and nothing has really changed, I am in family court August 14th, but cannot get legal aid, police have refused to over turn my bail conditions so I have to go to court to see what the judge says.

I am at the start of my stage two compliant with the SS. So not much luck on any front at the minute. I want to use some old family statements as evidence for the criminal court as this would contradict what X is now saying happened X does not keep old court documents. So I was smiling to myself finding these thinking yes this proves she's telling porkies. However my hopes were quickly dashed when I phoned the legal aid solicitor and he said that I cannot use these in the criminal court.

Everyone here saying about FB post email texts etc. well considering I have not been in any contact with her for 3 years then I do not have any evidence like that. So I cannot use old family court documents guess I cannot gather any evidence its her word against mine and as we all know my word does not amount up to much with a jury.

I have had no contact not even telephone contact with my children and I have passed my phone number on to her solicitor. So I am being stuffed from both ends one end off the police and the other end off the family solicitor arrrggghhhhh. All I wanted was to keep my children safe and happy and X will not allow this I think this is now the 7,8.9 accusation made against me I've lost count over the years and finally she has got the children back.


My question is what evidence can I gather now???? or am I stuffed. Just want a bit of hope not much to ask for after all she has a family solicitor and the police on her side fighting for her. I have no professionals that can help me kind of peed off really. Everyone eating out of the palm of her hand whilst I feel isolated in all of this.

What I have not said in here is that at the age of 17 I narrowly escaped being sexually assaulted by a an older male. I know what it feels like to have this done it is traumatic and horrible. I told the police many many years later I told the police I did not know the attacker and this took place outside. In the end the police said why has it took you this long to come forward I explained that I felt stupid and thought I would get laughed at by the police and was embarrassed that it was an older male. I did a statement and that was it for a few weeks then CID came out and had a chat he said I think you are making this up and we cannot do anything more now that was it.

But low and behold I have not done anything and yet all this is happening bizarre. Just thought I would share that with you so you know that I know what it actually feels like to be assaulted and therefore I could never do that to another human being.



Any advice would be very helpful thanks.

Ghost....B

[myhome]

I cannot gather any evidence its her word against mine and as we all know my word does not amount up to much with a jury

.
Hi Ghost Biscuit - don't despair about this - I went to billykickass's trial to support him, his gf and their families. The judge said, "Miss X says she was raped. That is her evidence! Mr bka says he did not rape her. That is his evidence!" My heart sank and thought like you. However I saw 3 days of the trial including the verdict - unanimous 2 x Not Guilty!!! Restored my faith in the jury system.

My question is what evidence can I gather now???? or am I stuffed. Just want a bit of hope not much to ask for

See above - no you're not "stuffed." Juries can and do "get it right...."

Keep strong........keep asking us for support MH

[is there justice?]

GB

I can understand how teed off you feel. It does look like one rule for one, another rule for others.

I can't understand how any woman can make FAs or keep their children and Father apart without very serious cause. My ex hub was a nightmare when we split years ago but he and my two (grown up) kids get on brilliantly now.

Let's hope common sense prevails, MH's words are very encouraging.

[Ghost biscuit]

Hi Is There Justice,

Thank you for replying, I have been through every accusation a dad can go through from her, but still I stood by my children and still it carries on. The children were living with me despite all the accusations up until 4 weeks ago. I would go all through this again and again because I know my children are safer in my care.


The main reason for this is because I got parental responsibility and residency of my son even though he is not biologically mine that is why she has done all this and our daughter is biologically mine but she's not bothered about her. Anyway thanks for your kind words.

Ghost....B