Alan Richardson

Alan Richardson was one of four men convicted of GBH with intent, after a Brisish Transport Policeman was found having been beaten. The policeman was taken to hospital in a critical condition and was left virtually blind in one eye with no sense of taste or smell. The prosecution case was that the victim disturbed the defendants while they were trying to break into a warehouse (there was evidence of a disturbance at the warehouse). Each of the defendants made confessions to the police and they were similar to each other. Richardson had initially denied involvement and signed admissions were only obtained in his seventh, eighth and ninth interviews. A neighbour also gave evidence that they had overheard a conversation between the defendants that contained similar details. The defendants claimed they had nothing to do with the attack and their confessions was unreliable and did not represent the truth. Richardson’s mother and a friend supporting his alibi – that he was out with friends and returned home around 1.30am (the victim had been seen conducting his normal duties at 1.50am) and Richardson claimed he only signed the confessions because police told him he had a mental blockage and they could have him committed to a mental institution.. On appeal, it was found that the admissions in the case (the only substantial evidence against the defendants) were obtained in breach of applicable rules. The court found that by present day standards of fairness the admissions made should never have been allowed to go before the jury. Had that been the ruling there would have been no case against Richardson. On that basis the appeal was allowed and Richardson’s conviction was quashed.