Life after acquital

[Heretowin]

My son was acquitted in February after a false allegation of rape. This was hanging over him for 3 years before it came to court. He suffered badly in terms of stress, insomnia, anxiety attacks and not wanting to go out anywhere.

After his acquittal he saw his GP and was referred for counselling. He only had two sessions before being discharged. The counsellor mainly wanted to help him overcome his negative thoughts about the police (some hope since the officer questioning him at interview refused to let him have any legal representation and kept his solicitor outside the locked door. A judge later ruled the interview inadmissible. If anyone has read my other thread with the details they will understand why he now hates and distrusts the police.)

However, what I want to share is that he has started to get his life back on track. He is going out socialising with friends, has started up a business that looks like it will support him and is fast looking like his old self.

I hope this gives some hope to others trying to rebuild their lives.

HTW

[is there justice?]

It's great to hear your son is moving on with his life. He deserves some happiness and catching up on fun and that 'good to be alive' feeling.
Well done to him if he can deal with negativity towards the police. I shall keep mine so as to always be forewarned of their true nature.
How are you? It all takes it's toll on the rest of the family too.

[Heretowin]

It's great to hear your son is moving on with his life. He deserves some happiness and catching up on fun and that 'good to be alive' feeling.
Well done to him if he can deal with negativity towards the police. I shall keep mine so as to always be forewarned of their true nature.
How are you? It all takes it's toll on the rest of the family too.

I don't think he will ever lose his wariness of the police and neither will I.

How am I? If the stress of the trial wasn't enough I was diagnosed with a tumour in my head just before the trial and postponed medical investigation until after. Test have shown it to be benign but it will need removed and the operation is highly likely to leave me with some paralysis due to nerve damage cutting it out. The dual stress has taken its toll on my health but nothing like it would have been if my son had been found guilty.

Tumour aside, life is getting back to normal and I am trying to provide my son with as much support as possible to get his life back on track. Every day I am grateful that I don't have to worry about him locked away in prison for something he didn't do and my heart breaks for those who are suffering in this way.

Thanks for asking. Best regards

HTW

[is there justice?]

Oh HTW

Life can really throw a bucket load at you, can't it?

I hope the op goes well without nerve damage. An old neighbour of mine was warned of the same possible side effect but came through ok though it took het a while to recover fully. I know every case is different but fingers crossed for an excellent outcome.

You deserve a bit of a quiet, uneventful life now. Take it easy and make sure you rest.

Xx

[phoenix2014]

So happy to hear your son is moving on,I don't think I will ever get over this and the injustice I have seen dished out,my son who was falsely accused will put it behind him one day as he is young but I always want him to be a bit wary and remember how close our lives came to being destroyed.

HTW,hope all goes well with your op,life can be so cruel. x

[Dave]

A healthy distrust of the police is a good thing for everyone

[whatsgoingon?]

A healthy distrust of the police is a good thing for everyone

Seconded and thirded! They're just civil servants justifying a job while trying to take it as easy as they can.

[lawlessone2009]

A hatred for everything attached to the legislative side of Government is quite healthy and I actively encourage it.

Glad your boy is on the mend. Just keep an eye on him if anything 'negative' happens (slight failure in business even though not terminal for instance) as a small negative to the outsider can be a giant negative to him. I hope he keeps on the 'up'.

I also hope you get your treatment and fully recover. Last thing you wanted when right on the pressure point of the whole protracted 3 years!

[Heretowin]

A hatred for everything attached to the legislative side of Government is quite healthy and I actively encourage it.

Glad your boy is on the mend. Just keep an eye on him if anything 'negative' happens (slight failure in business even though not terminal for instance) as a small negative to the outsider can be a giant negative to him. I hope he keeps on the 'up'.

I also hope you get your treatment and fully recover. Last thing you wanted when right on the pressure point of the whole protracted 3 years!

Thanks Lawlessone

Health issues are something that happen everyday to many people but it is heartening to find that the NHS, flawed as it is, is staffed by people who only want to do the very best to help you without prejudice, self interest or bias. Truly the polar opposite of those other government employees, the police and CPS.

The business is an extension of a hobby where he is highly respected by other enthusiasts who are more than happy to pay him for his services. So there is already a market and we are currently developing the business to business side. I have provided the start up funding and will provide business management support through the incubation stage. This is something I have done before and know the pitfalls and how to avoid them.

This approach gave him the opportunity to do something that he loves, get him out amongst like minded people and removed the worry about what any employment checks would throw up should he have interview for regular employment.

He is very lucky that we have been able to do this and starting and maintaining a business in the current climate is very risky with huge stresses but fortunately we are able to mitigate a lot of those risks.

Life can be rebuilt and maybe even better than before. The best revenge on the FA!

HTW

[Rights Fighter]

My son was acquitted in February after a false allegation of rape. This was hanging over him for 3 years before it came to court. He suffered badly in terms of stress, insomnia, anxiety attacks and not wanting to go out anywhere.

After his acquittal he saw his GP and was referred for counselling. He only had two sessions before being discharged. The counsellor mainly wanted to help him overcome his negative thoughts about the police (some hope since the officer questioning him at interview refused to let him have any legal representation and kept his solicitor outside the locked door. A judge later ruled the interview inadmissible. If anyone has read my other thread with the details they will understand why he now hates and distrusts the police.)

However, what I want to share is that he has started to get his life back on track. He is going out socialising with friends, has started up a business that looks like it will support him and is fast looking like his old self.

I hope this gives some hope to others trying to rebuild their lives.

HTW

It's great that your son has been acquitted but I am rather shocked that in this day and age the interviewing officer wasn't aware (or seemed not to care) that it is a right to have legal representation before and during interview.

Did you have copies of the actually interview transcripts? I ask because you might have a case to sue the police as they clearly blatantly disregarded PACE regulations. If it is in the transcripts where the officer tells him he cannot have a legal rep during the course of the interview then that might be the first step. I know a solicitor who could possibly help with that.

[Faith]

That could well prove to be a therapeutic course of action HeretoWin

[lawlessone2009]

Mixing business with pleasure... My oh my...

Putting the old saying aside, as long as he's happy, kept busy and enjoys himself there is nothing to loose.

You certainly seem to have a good business head so I am sure that everything will work out perfect. You'll also be able to keep an eye on him.

[Heretowin]

It's great that your son has been acquitted but I am rather shocked that in this day and age the interviewing officer wasn't aware (or seemed not to care) that it is a right to have legal representation before and during interview.

Did you have copies of the actually interview transcripts? I ask because you might have a case to sue the police as they clearly blatantly disregarded PACE regulations. If it is in the transcripts where the officer tells him he cannot have a legal rep during the course of the interview then that might be the first step. I know a solicitor who could possibly help with that.

We don't have copies of the interview transcripts but the solicitor probably has them. We have raised the breach of procedure with the solicitor and he wasn't hopeful of getting anywhere with it. When my son was at the police station the officer called the duty solicitor on his mobile and handed the phone to my son. The connection was terrible and neither he or the duty solicitor could hear each other. He told the officer he couldn't hear anything but the officer just said "you've had legal advice" and hung up the phone.

The duty solicitor rushed to the interview room where he was denied entry and he went to the desk officer and formally complained before going back to the interview room and again failed to gain entry. The solicitor and barrister thought the police would claim that phone call represented access to legal advice when I discussed going after the lead officer. They didn't think there would be much chance of success because of the phone call. However, the independent judge must have thought it was a serious failure when he ruled the interview inadmissible.

Immediately after the trial my son was gunning for that officer but he now wants to close the book on it and get on with life.

Thanks anyway for your kind offer.

HTW