The video will start in 8 Cancel
Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
A man cleared of rape is suing police and prosecutors after they failed to disclose messages that would have proved his innocence.
Liam Allan, 22, of south-east London, accused of 12 rapes and sex assaults, said he lived in “a terrible limbo” as police withheld 40,000 messages from his accuser.
He had faced up to 20 years in jail if guilty.
But the case against Mr Allan at Croydon Crown Court was dropped after three days when the evidence on a computer disk containing 40,000 messages revealed the alleged victim pestered him for "casual sex", reports the Mirror.
Mr Allan, a criminology student, said he has “no choice” but to sue police and the Crown Prosecution Service, who have yet to offer an apology.
A judge at Croydon Crown Court has called for an inquiry.
The Met is investigating after a new prosecutor found the messages.
Talking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, Mr Allan said: "University is meant to be the best years of your life and the last two years have been spent worrying and not concentrating on anything.
"It has completely ripped apart my normal personal life.
"I feel relief on one side, that the case is over, but now there's the stress of getting compensation and the process of suing - so it's not over completely."
poll loading Should rape suspects get anonymity until proven guilty? 21000+ VOTES SO FAR Yes No
Download our all-new mobile app to get the latest news, sport and what's on. Click here for iPhone and here for Android
Looking for an older story? Search our archives
Search for jobs, motors and property, or place an advert or family notice here.
PLSDIEINAFIRE on December 19th, 2017 at 15:07 UTC »
Here's the story, to spare your eyes.
A student cleared of rape is suing police after they failed to disclose text messages that would have proved his innocence.
Liam Allan, 22, of south-east London, said he lived in “a terrible limbo” for two years on bail as police sat on 40,000 messages from his accuser, who alleged 12 sex attacks.
The case was thrown out last week when the texts, including requests for sex, were revealed, reports the Mirror.
He had faced 20 years in jail if guilty. Mr Allan, a criminology student, said he has “no choice” but to sue police and the Crown Prosecution Service, who have yet to offer an apology.
A judge at Croydon Crown Court called for an inquiry.
The Met is investigating after a new prosecutor found the messages.
mattreyu on December 19th, 2017 at 13:45 UTC »
I don't think I've sent 40,000 messages since I've owned a phone
gunnerxp on December 19th, 2017 at 13:33 UTC »
This story is almost as awful as the mobile website I read it on.