where to find a specialist or a solicitor who has experience with false accusations?

[tony72]

Hi all,

Like a lot of people on here I find myself in a situation where I have been falsely accused of rape. I had 4 officers in battle dress lift me off my bed 2 weeks ago at 5 in the morning, tow my car away and throw me in a cell for 14 hours while I was being processed and interviewed under caution. Not an experience I want to go through again.

Allegations of rape have been made against me by a woman I have been seeing for 6 months behind our respective partners' back. The allegations have completely blind sided me as this was someone who I trusted and well who I was hoping to move on with after a marriage that had been non existent for 5 years.

I have given a very long, full statement to the police in the presence of a duty solicitor. At the end of the interview even the police officer mentioned to me that it indeed puts a different side to the story which I thought was a rather unusual thing to say.

I'm currently on bail till the end of march while the police carry out their investigations. My car was returned to me after a couple of days, my phone is still with the police pending further analysis.

I also believe that I now know why she has made the allegations against me, something I can't prove, but which the police can with one phone call.

But before I share anything with the police I would like to know what I should or shouldn't say as I don't want to give her a chance to change her story.

I have text messages and Facebook chats that prove previous consensual contact, some of it instigated by my accuser. The police are aware of them, but I have not been asked to provide any proof or a password to my Facebook account.

It has now been two weeks and I have not heard a single thing, not from the police nor from my solicitor. The only news I have is a letter from my solicitor telling me their terms and conditions and that until they hear otherwise they will be in touch with me the day before my bail hearing. This is another 5 weeks away and I am not really sure if I want to sit twiddling my thumbs waiting without being able to do something. Does anyone know what I can do in the mean time to put together a case for my defence?

What questions do I ask my solicitor so that I know they have experience of dealing with these kind of cases? My duty solicitor was from Howells, does anyone have any experience with them?

I also found the website of falselyaccused who seem to be experts on dealing with these kind of cases, but their company seems to have stopped trading in may last year.

Does anybody else know of a company or a solicitors specialising in these cases?

I live in Hull so anyone up north would be preferred.

Thanks in advance

Tony

[tigertiger]

Hi tony72
It really is like watching your self in a nightmare isnt it. Only your living it out. I can fully relate to your ordeal having been arrested myself at the airport by large numbers of them and being paraded around the airport like a dangerous criminal in front of the whole plane. Its amazing how someones word turns you into a most wanted dangerous criminal that requires a large police presence for arrest.
The whole thing is mind boggling.

Be VERY careful what you tell the police, it needs to be run past an experienced solicitor first, unless you have something which can prove innocence beyond all reasonable doubt then its best left until later if it goes further other wise you are right her story can be changed and the goal posts will be widened. Police are not interested in details which shows you in a positive light and if they know about it those positive things will be turned against you.


While you are on bail there isnt much a solicitor can do now until a charge is made. But you can start preparing your defence, print screen things like facebook messages, make notes on things you think could help you. Notes should be stored somewhere safe away from the police. Police will generally not keep you informed of any updates, nor do they reveal much of an update to your solicitor. Do not ring them, do not speak to them, if they ring you inform them you need to speak to your solicitor before answering any questions no matter how in significant.

Have a look at this page for a guide on what to expect
http://www.daftmoo.org.uk/mooforum/s...at-happens-now


Your phone will more than likely be kept a very long time / months for forensics, they may give you it back if there is nothing on it they need.

Have a look a the solicitors thread here for forum members recommended specialists.

http://www.daftmoo.org.uk/mooforum/s...ist-solicitors

[tigertiger]

In regards to solicitors I suggest contacting a few specialists especially from the recommended list. Some only work privately others work on legal aid and will take on cases nationwide.

Generally its advised to stay away from falsleyaccused agents as your just paying for a middle man, you dont need to pay anymore than you need too. You can get free advise here and contact solicitors directly yourself to get a feel for who you feel most comfortable in communicating with.

[can it get worse]

So sorry to hear of your predicament. It is a shocking experience to be on the receiving end of a FA. These liars are disgusting.

As already advised, be cautious about the 'Falsely Accused' website. Many people have had bad experiences with them if it is who I think you mean. I think there is some information on this forum about this.

I hope this will end for you shortly with the right result but try to accept that this is often a waiting game.

Regards.

[myhome]

hi Tony - tigertiger has given you excellent advice. The police are not your friends and they have no interest in the fact that you are innocent. They have conviction targets to meet and prosecutions look good on their records - finding out who is innocent doesn't

Don't talk to them without a solicitor present. Don't give them any information other than what they ask you for ie don't volunteer extra information especially if you think it will help you. They will go back to her and tell her and she will change her story to fit which she is allowed to do - there are several accounts of this happening on a variety of threads on here. (However if at any time you change your story, you will be accused of lying!!!!) keep any screenshots emails social media exchanges electronically somewhere where the police can't get at them if they take your laptop etc. Make sure you keep to your bail conditions and don't try to contact her at all...

keep strong - this is a truly awful experience and we'll help all we can.

BTW - "officers in battle dress" - are you in one of the Forces?

[tony72]

Thanks a lot for the replies already it is much appreciated. I'm still in shock about it all and I think now that I've recovered a bit I'm looking at ways to defend myself and to make sure this nightmare stops without causing any further damage to my family.

I know that things will take time and that the police need to investigate, but I don't like sitting around and let things fester away.

Is there any way I can find out if the solicitor I have has got any experience with these cases? He has told me they have, but I'm not so sure. Any questions I should ask him?

I have also looked through the recommended solicitors thread, but most of them seem to be based down south. I know that some solicitors will represent you nationwide, but I am also thinking about the practical side of it. Would some of the solicitors that are recommended be open to a 1-2 hour information session (paid) to talk honestly through procedures, defence and what I should do? people like a Gerry McDonald or a Chris Saltrese which seem to be recommended.

Loads of questions, but it is really not something I am familiar with or have experience with as I have never been in touch with the police.

@myhome: I'm ex forces yes, is it that noticeable? :big smile: I left the forces (not british) 11 years ago, but I guess some habits die hard.

[barney]

Cant empasise enough that you do NOT trust the police as they are only interested in locking you up, the CPS are even worse. Take copies of everything including screenshots of facebook, text messages etc. If you give these to the police they will mysteriously vanish, never to be seen again.
I used Chris Saltrese and I have to say he was brilliant, I'm afraid that even when it comes to justice you get what you pay for.

You do not need a specialist at present as there is little they can do unless you are charged but it makes you feel better to have one on stand by and to know they can start work on your case immeditely.

Good Luck buddy and don't let them get you down.

[myhome]

@myhome: I'm ex forces yes, is it that noticeable? :big smile: I left the forces (not british) 11 years ago, but I guess some habits die hard.

Ha - it's just that you said, "Officers in battle dress"!!!!!!!!

[carastro]

My friends son used a very good defence lawyer who works for Blavo, he was found not guilty.
They are based in London, not sure if they will do other parts of the country.

http://www.carmelitechambers.co.uk/members/barry-kogan

Carastro

[tony72]

one week till bail hearing

I have one week to go till my bail hearing and I'm really not in a good place right now. I have no idea what to expect or what will happen.

I have tried to find some professional advice other than what is available online, but this has proven to be a very difficult thing to do. There simply doesn't seem to be any solicitor in my area (Humberside) who deals with cases of false allegations of rape, which is surprising since there have been quite a few alleged rape cases reported in the papers recently.

I have also contacted some of the solicitors mentioned in the various threads, but they all seem to be based down south or in London which makes it unpractical for an information session (free or paid). Some of the solicitors also appear to be inundated with actual court cases that they simply don't have the time to meet me.

I have spoken to the duty solicitor that was assigned to me during the interview and he has told me we should just wait and see what the police say before taking any steps. This doesn't fill me with much confidence. I am having visions of them charging me and locking me up on remand pending a trial.

Is there any one in the humberside area I could talk to for advise as I am not dealing with this at all and it is causing tremendous tension and stress for me and my family.

[Casehardened]

Hi Tony,

I guess this won't be much help but your feelings about the approaching bail date are perfectly 'normal', as you say, it is the fear of not knowing what is going to happen.

Of course none of us can speculate, but at this stage of the enquiries, the likelihood is a rebail. Your solicitor is quite correct in saying there is not much he or you can do at the moment, the police will simply say their enquiries are continuing, however if you ask him to contact the OIC the day before you have to answer bail he may then be given an indication of what will happen.

If this is your first offence and you haven't broken your bail conditions it is unlikely you will be remanded.

It doesn't really matter about not being able to instruct a specialist solicitor unless you are required to attend a second interview or unless you are charged, though it is good that you are researching possible firms.

The members who have responded on this thread have given excellent advice.

[tony72]

bail date changed due to insufficient evidence

I have just been informed by the police and my solicitor that my bail date has been moved at the last minute. Reason I have been given is that they haven't been able to gather sufficient forensic evidence and that they can't proceed at this stage.

This all makes me rather confused and suspicious. If they haven't been able to check all the evidence that was given to them in the past 6 weeks, then what more are they going to be able to gather in the next 8 weeks? Are they trying to "find" evidence to suit her statement? Is this normal?

I'm also suspicious of the time I have to go in. They have asked me to come in very late in the evening which seems odd as it way outside normal office hours. Is it normal to have to go for a bail hearing after 8 in the evening? My mind is racing at the moment and I am having visions of having to spend a night in a police cell.

This whole process is infuriating, but then I guess it is all part of a tactic to wear people down.

I never though that having a false allegation made against you could have such a profound effect on your mental health. I feel nauseous each time I hear a police siren or see a uniformed police officer or a police car, I don't socialise with friends anymore in case someone asks for a lift, I am frightened to open the door when someone knocks after the whole dawn raid they put me and my family through. I've been in combat situations while in service and I've never felt anxious or helpless to do anything like this. This is ridiculous.

[Casehardened]

Hi Tony,

I've added this latest post onto your original thread so that any members who have not seen that will appreciate the situation.

(there may be an innocuous reason for the late bail appearance such as the OIC's shift pattern)

[tony72]

Thanks a lot Casehardened. I didn't want to clutter up the old conversation, but yes in hindsight it does make more sense like you say to keep it all together. Thanks of being on the ball.

T

Hi Tony,

I've added this latest post onto your original thread so that any members who have not seen that will appreciate the situation.

(there may be an innocuous reason for the late bail appearance such as the OIC's shift pattern)

[edinguy]

Sorry to see you going through this Tony but you have come to the right place in this forum. You have had some great advice already and some very clued up members have been responding which I'm sure has helped you in this struggle.

I can imagine what you are going through as I went through it all myself, it really is a depressing exsistance waiting for others to actually sort things out so you can get on with your life...the waiting is like serving a sentence itself even before it get's to court or NFA'd!

I'm glad others told you to hold fire in regards to dealing with the poilce RE messages, FB ect as they are only interested in getting their conviction rates up...they don't have the slightest concern for the FA'd. I found them to be very softly spoken to myself and reasuring me but then the interview came and I was grilled to the point I was mentally and physically drained.

I hope you get some answers soon and you can rebuild your life and get on with it, these things should never take as long as they do.