Innocent man jailed for 3 years over false rape claim - despite police knowing 'victim' was a fantasist



A man jailed when a woman falsely cried rape told of his fury yesterday after learning that police knew the woman was 'unreliable'.

Warren Blackwell, 40, spent three years in jail as a convicted sex attacker until his 'victim' was unmasked as a fantasist who had accused other blameless men.

The woman - named under Parliamentary privilege as Shannon Taylor - said he indecently assaulted her outside a social club in the early hours of January 1, 1999, after a New Year's Eve party.

A report revealed yesterday that officers were told Taylor was 'unreliable', ' unstable' and craved attention - but they failed to disclose it at his trial.



Innocent: Warren Blackwell and wife Tanya. His accuser invented her rape story

CHAOS OVER ANONYMITY FOR DEFENDANTS

Plans to grant anonymity to defendants in rape trials were thown in to chaos earlier this week after Ken Clarke indicated that MPs will be given a free vote on the issue. The Justice Secretary admitted there was no 'consensus' among any of the main parties - despite it being included as a pledge in the coalition's first programme for government. David Cameron has already signalled that the original plans will be dramatically scaled back following an outcry from Labour MPs and feminist campaign groups. They have pointed to the case of London taxi driver John Worboys, saying more than 80 victims came forward after he was charged. Labour MP Emma Reynolds said: 'Anonymity for rape defendants would have prevented this from happening.'

The mistake led to an appalling miscarriage of justice which saw father-of-two Mr Blackwell jailed in October 1999 for three years, which was later increased to five, despite no forensic evidence to back up the claims.

His conviction was quashed in September 2006 when it became clear that not only did Mr Blackwell not commit the crime, it never took place.

In 2006, Lord Campbell-Savours used Parliamentary privilege to name the woman.



Taylor, who is said to have made seven other false sex attack allegations, including one against her father, would otherwise have kept her identity secret for life.

But she was not prosecuted for perjury, because prosecutors decided she was too ill.

Taylor kept changing her name and moving, so police forces did not realise they were dealing with the same woman.

But the Independent Police Complaints Commission revealed an officer from another force expressed concerns about her reliability to the detective investigating Mr Blackwell's case, saying she seemed to 'enjoy police attention'.

The detective's notes referred to her as 'unreliable' and 'unstable', but this was never disclosed to prosecutors or the defence team.

Last night Mr Blackwell attacked a 'mealy-mouthed' apology from Northamptonshire Police.

He said: 'It does not even begin to address the suffering I have been through and my family have been through. It is disgusting.'

Mr Blackwell is taking legal advice about bringing a damages claim against Northamptonshire Police. He said: 'It took a long time, it was a massive investigation that was, in my view, hindered by Northamptonshire Police.

'To say they dragged their heels is an understatement.'

Mr Blackwell was jailed on the word of Taylor, who claimed he seized her at knifepoint outside a village club early on New Year's Day 1999, marched her down an alleyway and indecently assaulted her.

She picked him out of an identity parade and a jury found him guilty.

But an investigation by the Criminal Cases Review Commission later discovered that his accuser had invented the story.

The Court of Appeal cleared him in 2006 when it emerged that evidence suggested her injuries were self-inflicted.

Mr Blackwell was later awarded £252,500 in compensation - but minus the estimated £12,500 cost of his food and accommodation while behind bars.

Yesterday the IPCC criticised Northamptonshire Police for taking more than a year to finalise an apology and resolve disciplinary matters with officers involved.



The IPCC probe, launched in 2007, found failings by three officers who had a case to answer on misconduct grounds.

But one has since retired and two others - a detective chief inspector and a detective sergeant - will only receive words of advice.

Yesterday IPCC Commissioner Amerdeep Somal said: 'As the Court of Appeal has ruled, Warren Blackwell was subject to a terrible miscarriage of justice.

'Nothing can bring back the three years four months he wrongly spent in prison.

'I am dismayed that Northamptonshire Police has taken so long to issue an apology to Mr Blackwell that he has patently deserved.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said the force 'regrets that some aspects of the investigation and handling of information, which emerged after Mr Blackwell's conviction in 1999, fell well below the required standard'.







