Don't know where to turn.

[VincentV35]

Hi all,

Another sleepless night of not being able to settle or barely even direct my thoughts, when I happened across this forum and hoped that maybe I could find some support, help & advice.

I was last Monday arrested at my home by four police officers and informed that my younger brother has claimed that I raped him on 3 occasions in our childhood (Him aged between 7 and 9, myself 15 to 17, his times were very vague) These accusations are completely untrue. I am absolutely bewildered, angry and terrified by this. To make matters worse my only pillar of strength (my partner of 6 years) is currently having to deal with the court case of her father having had similar allegations thrown at him so I don't want to bother her too much with my own feelings and concerns.

I was taken completely peacefully and the officers did not handcuff me, if anything the officers were lovely, smiling, joking and asking about my holiday (I was in Tunisia when they first came to take me in for questioning) I was quickly processed and taken in for questioning the two officers from CPS who were present at my arrest. I was honestly in a state of shock that these disgusting accusations have come up, especially given the fact that I have had nothing to do with my family at all for close to 15 years. I refused legal aid for my initial questioning but I am now starting to worry that this was a mistake. I suffer from epilepsy so as a result my memory is foggy at best and my ability to track time is almost non-existent.

They asked me a great many questions across a range of subjects from my relationship with various family members, to my move across the country, separation from my family and why I had decided to changed my name.

I am beginning to worry that my complete honesty, lack of memory, refusal of having a lawyer present and my apparent lack of reaction to the entire affair may have actually damaged me somehow.

I have been bailed until the 20th of July while they investigate further, I know this battle has only just begun and that many members are in even worse positions. However for a generally emotionally stable person (my partner calls me emotionally retarded) I am almost completely unable to hold it together, escape this feeling of being totally alone or remove the dark thoughts about an inevitable conviction & prison sentence from my mind. I know I am completely innocent but with the current "witch hunt" for crimes of this kind going on I am almost entirely convinced that I will lose what little I do have and be subjected to a prison sentence.

I understand if this post is completely ignored, but even just typing this out is slowing my heart and easing up the nausea so I thank you for that I guess

Vincent

[AmandaF]

"Welcome! to the forum although when people have to find us it is usually during the darkest days of our lives.
You will not be ignored- I don't think many people are up at this time on a saturday morning! Your story is very similar to everyone's on here, there is loads of support available and we can ALL relate to the feelings you are experiencing. Hold on!!

[Casehardened]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

Your emotions will strike a chord with many folks here (especially the sleepless searching for answers on the net: take comfort from your PC/phones not having been seized!

Have a look at this link for some initial advice:

http://www.daftmoo.org.uk/mooforum/s...at-happens-now

PS I'm guessing that you meant by refusing 'legal aid' you meant you turned down the offer of a duty solicitor, but this is again a common theme echoed by many, and confirms that this is probably the first time you have come across HM Constabulary......indeed I often wonder why they send multiple officers to arrest first-time alleged SO's; our shock renders us incapable of serious resistance to arrest

[VincentV35]

Thank you for your welcome AmandaF and Casehardened

When I said ignored I less meant the time and moreover the fact that this is still very much in its early days whereas many members are far more in need of support because of where their false accusations are in the system.

Yes Casehardened, I realised last night reading through information that I am on of the lucky ones who so far has not had my items seized, especially being with the fact that I told the police that a few years back my brother had been in contact with me on Facebook in an attempt to re-establish some kind of relationship with me, contact that I could not continue due to his behaviour in the place he was living at the time.

Thank you for that sticky link, it has helped outline the overall process in a way that was easier to manage. Being around for my girlfriends fathers case has allowed me to gather some information over the years (His case is now in Crown and has taken almost 5 years) but I was very much in the dark about how it all goes down.

This isn't the first time I have been arrested in my life, but it is the first time for a situation of this magnitude where bail or the possibility of court is involved.

Again Casehardened yes, when I said legal aid I meant the duty solicitor. Even though I was in a state of shock I was also very confident in my innocence so didn't feel the need and figured if anything it would have made me seem guilty when I have nothing to hide. But in a case where it is literally his word against mine with no possibility of witnesses or any form of physical evidence I am really starting to worry that my poor memory is going to actively work against me.

[Rights Fighter]

Sad to welcome you to the forum under the circumstances.

If epilepsy has such an effect on your memory and ability to monitor time, maybe you should have been offered an "appropriate adult". Did you tell them about that difficulty?

So many times I have heard "I hadn't done anything wrong so didn't need a solicitor". The police will often try to trip you up and given you would be in a state anyway, and given your difficulties, they may well have done that - hence the need for a solicitor to prevent that from occurring.

Having said that, some duty solicitors are awful, and tend to be very pally with the officers, however some are great. You need to identify an experienced solicitor and specifically ask for him or her (if it's a duty solicitor it will be free / legally aided) if you are asked back in for another interview. You also need to ask the solicitor if you require an appropriate adult.

[VincentV35]

Hi Rights Fighter and thank you for your welcome to the forum.

I did indeed mention my difficulties, several times in fact but no mention was ever made of the possible need for an "appropriate adult" I can only assume that it is due to my age (I am nearly 30) and the fact that although I have these difficulties I am mostly able to conduct myself in everyday life and in conversation.

I realise now after finding this forum that not requesting a duty solicitor was a mistake, one I shall not be repeating if I am asked back to be questioned. I don't know if it makes any difference but outside of the interview itself both before and after, the two CPS officers from the force that had traveled the 350 miles to question me that morning were like I said before very nice and didn't outwardly appear to be accusatory. They had initially said while at my house to my partner that I was not in trouble and that I would be home soon enough, looking back I imagine that was just as not to worry her too much.

How do I go about finding out the duty solicitors for my area? As I said I know very little about these things, and the only thing I managed to find about the cost of a lawyer is a news article about how some are now charging £850 per hour.

[Rights Fighter]

There is absolutely no need to pay a solicitor for interview. If you are reinterviewed, where would that be? It's possible you would have to go to the area the officers came from and you need to clarify first where.

Without giving the exact details, roughly where were you interviewed? And where did the officers' come from?

[VincentV35]

I have no idea where I would be reinterviewed, it has not been mentioned. All I know is that when I answer bail the CPS officers have said they will be there.

I was held and interviewed at my local police station in Devon, the CPS officers had travelled down from Norfolk. The accusations had been made in Norfolk and at the time they apparently happened I was also obviously living in Norfolk.

[Rights Fighter]

If you have to be interviewed again and it's in Devon

http://www.nunnrickard.co.uk/index.html

Stephen Nunn is the man!

[VincentV35]

Thank you for that, does Stephen Nunn do legal aid?

Do you think I should attempt to contact him soon, or to request him if I get requestioned?

Thank you for your help Rights Fighter, it is seriously appreciated!

[Rights Fighter]

Yes they work on Legal Aid. You could contact them and say what's happened and ask that if you are called for re-interview would Mr Nunn (or Chris Seamark) be able to attend as a duty, as and when.

[VincentV35]

Thank you, I have bookmarked that page

I will ring them on Monday and enquire. Better to be prepared and set up than leave it to the last minute.

Maybe a silly question, but if the person who I request as duty solicitor isn't available will I be held while it is being sorted or just assigned somebody else?

[Rights Fighter]

NR might have other duties that can attend. Sometimes the police will wait for your chosen duty sol - well usually they will but if they are some way away, it would mean longer in the cells.

Ask the question on Monday if Mr N can act as duty and if not, Chris Seamark, although I am sure they have other duty sols in the practice if they cannot. Also explain the epilepsy and how it affects your memory so they can be forewarned/forearmed

It's quite a big practice so will have a number of duties who could attend. If there is a charge (there might not be) then you would probably have to find a sol in the Norfolk area as it seems that that will be where any trial would be held. I can help you with that too

[VincentV35]

I have no issue with however long I have to stay in the cells, especially if it is time spent to give myself the best chance to come away from this with at least part of my life intact!

I will do that first thing Monday Rights Figher, again thank you so much for your assistance. It is going a long way towards feeling a small amount of hope.

[Rights Fighter]

If you check your account settings you should be able to enable emails (not PMs just yet). If you do that I can send you more info