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My Story in 2 parts Part 1

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  • My Story in 2 parts Part 1

    Due to space I have broken this down into 2 parts.

    I feel it is time to write this letter to voice my concerns, after two years I am still suffering as a result of what I had to endure throughout these proceeding. The health issues I now suffer have had a direct effect on my life. I can no longer pursue the activities related to my small holding, that was my dream in Bulgaria, the ability to work the land and look after the animals, taken from me.
    J.D. is my sister J.T. is my stepdaughter
    This case concerned allegations of sexual abuse made against me, by J.T. and J.D.. I would like my feelings known about the manner in which this case was supposed to have been investigated, and to bring attention to the manner in which I was treated regarding my medical condition, whilst in custody at XXXX Police Station. From start to finish the case was conducted in a completely unprofessional manner and was a waste of mine and tax payers money. On the face of it this case went forward for prosecution with little or no investigation, and no evidence, and proceeded on the complainants statements alone. A cursory look at the written transcript of the statements made by the two complainants reveal a myriad of inconsistencies, and their witnesses statements at times contradicting the complainants, and if I could see these inconsistencies, why could the Police and the CPS not? There was no attempt at all to interview myself, the only evidence regarding these allegations that could be produced was mine, which disproved the allegations made against me, and at times put me in another part of the UK or in another Country to the complainants. This I find incredible, that a case can go forward for prosecution without any attempt to question the accused. This I would suggest assumes guilt, and left the onus on me to prove otherwise. There was no doubt that in the case of J.T.s allegations in the 1980s, that there was an investigation, yet no documentation from the Police, Social Services, from Humberside, Nottingham and Surrey could be produced. In fact right up to 16 July 2014 six months after having extradited me for prosecution the investigating officer was still trying to find some evidence to support the claims against me.
    My brother, sister in law and mother were approached by the investigating officer, my Brother and Mother expressed the opinion that the allegations being made by J.D., were motivated by greed and the hope that she could get money by way of criminal compensation. J.D. has an enormous history of Theft and Fraud and this was one of the reasons why she was excluded from the family. This was related to the investigating officer. My family were asked about my whereabouts and were told I was living in Bulgaria, my brother stated that because of my heart condition, he would like to talk to me first. He did so, and I asked him to pass on my address, email address plus telephone number. At the same time I told him that I would arrange to fly back to the UK if required. My brother telephoned the investigating officer, with the details I had passed on to him. He was dealt with in an offhand way and told that the case was ongoing and could not be discussed. As a result the officer failed to gain any of the information he had. Some time later a European Arrest Warrant was issued against me. As the arrest warrant went through Fugitives Unit of the National Crime Agency. This gave me the status of Criminal and the impression given was that I was in hiding and on the run. Far from that, the investigating officer knew I was living in Bulgaria. There were other avenues that could have been taken to contact me. UK tax office and DWP Pensions both have my contact details. Bulgarian immigration and the British Embassy both have my details, I also have a Facebook Account, a quick Google of my name will throw up several press and Television articles on my life in Bulgaria. Not exactly rocket science, yet none of these avenues were investigated. It would seem that my details were obtained from the passport office when I applied for a new passport, a stupid move had I been on the run and hiding. So even at this stage it was possible to arrange to interview me, instead my guilt was assumed and this led to the issue of a European Arrest Warrant, my thoughts on that follow:
    The European Arrest Warrant issued against me was for the prosecution of a total of 21 charges, only 3 of which would warrant extradition in the European Framework they were listed under. These were 3 charges of rape alleged by one J.T. that did fall under this criteria. This was signed off by District Judge XXXXX XXXX of the Magistrates Court XXXX. In my opinion these charges did not meet the criteria needed for a reasonable chance of prosecution. In that the CPS could not produce any evidence to back up these allegations. Despite numerous references from J.T. and her mother to interviews, Police, doctors examination and social security involvement, at the time of the initial investigation in the 1980s, all substantiated by, the complainant and other witnesses at the time. The fact that the complainant and other witnesses made statements to the fact that the complainant was still a Virgin at the time of the investigation in the 1980s.
    Had I been interviewed it would have been revealed that the accusations by J.T. in the mid 1980s was an attempt by her, to stop her mother and myself getting back together. This came to light in the investigation during the 1980s, and was mentioned several times in J.T.s statement to the Police investigating this case. At the time J.T.was going through a rebellious stage and her mother could not control her. She, (J.T.) knew if we were back together the drugs and drinking she indulged in would stop and she would have to conform, and her freedom to do as she pleased would stop. The initial allegation made by J.T. in the 1980s was investigated and found to have no substance, this investigation was brought to the attention of the investigating officer, by J.D.. Then as if by magic the one accusation against me made in the 1980s by J.T. had jumped to 13 allegations. To me this appears to have been an attempt to throw enough charges at me in the hope that some would stick. I thank God that my Military and work records put me away from home at the time of the majority of these allegations.

    Continued----

  • #2
    Part 2

    No documents relating to this investigation could be produced by the police or CPS. I would have thought that charges of Rape within the Arrest Warrant would have triggered some sort of query as to whether the complainant had indeed been raped, when her own testimony, and Doctors evidence, refuted such charges. This makes me wonder if the CPS and the signing off Judge ever made even a rudimentary attempt to check the facts in the Arrest Warrant and Extradition request, or indeed read the DVD transcription made by J.T.. In which she herself declared that she had been examined by a doctor and found to be still a virgin despite the allegations of rape and multiple digital penetration. However the 3 charges of rape were needed to be included in the Arrest Warrant, otherwise the Bulgarian Authorities would not have complied with the extradition request, as it was the Bulgarian judges asked me if the UK police had ever questioned me in relation to these charges. They bailed me for a month until they could get confirmation. After a hearing on the 12th March 2014 I was taken into custody to await extradition. I doubt if any thought at all was given to the consequences of a 66 year old British subject with a heart condition, five times bypass and suffering from angina, being placed in a Bulgarian prison, that was still in transition from a Communist era. Unable to understand the language fully, In a cell 3 metres by 2 metres, locked up 24 hours a day, lights on for 24 hours a day, inedible food, only water to drink, bed bugs, fleas, rats and mice. Toilet facilities a communal hole in the floor into which uneaten food was discarded. The washing and drinking tap in the same area. The cell was rank and walls covered with dried excrement, the bedding stiff with filth, and toilet facilities at night consisted of a plastic bottle to urinate in. No exercise or outdoor time. I endured fifteen days in these conditions. It was in this environment that I contracted a Lung disease for which I was treated for at the A & E in the UK. It did not stop there, it was during an involuntary spasm caused by this ailment that I suffered a fractured vertebrae in my lower back, for which I am still undergoing treatment after more than two years and back home in Bulgaria.
    On the day of my extradition from Bulgaria, I was awoken at 5am on 27th March 2014 to be prepared to move to Sofia airport. I was met at the airport and handed over into the custody of a three man UK police team, whom I might add acted with due respect and were very professional. I boarded the plane and alighted at Heathrow, was taken to Heathrow police station and processed there. I was driven from there to XXXXX police station arriving at approx: 2230hrs. Seen by a nurse, had DNA and fingerprints taken and placed in a cell. Still in the clothes I had been wearing for a week, I asked for and was allowed a shower and a shave the first in over a week.
    I was taken out of the cell to the Custody Suite which would by now be very late, and had the charges against me barked out by some wannabe Regimental Sergeant Major, and asked how I pleaded to the charges, after which the Custody Officer stated, ‘’These charges were DESIGNED to get you back to the UK and into the criminal justice system. “ At the time this statement made me wonder if that was the case. I now feel that to be true. It was during the time I was being processed in the custody suite at xxxxx, that the escort that handed me over also handed over my heart medication and explained that they had given me my evening dosage and that I would need access to a morning dosage. I was then examined by a nurse and had a blood pressure test, this confirmed that my blood pressure was high. I explained to her that I would need my medication the next morning and could I have my Angina tablets, so I could self treat in the case of an attack. This was denied and I was told the Doctor would examine me and give me my medication in the morning. I saw the Doctor in the morning and again had my blood pressure taken, again it was above normal. I asked for my normal morning dosage of medication and the Doctor refused to give me it, it was known by the investigating team that I suffered from a heart condition long before I arrived at xxxx Police Station, and despite my protestations my heart medication was withheld from me. I was returned to my cell and some time later I had an Angina attack. I was treated with a spray by the Doctor and returned to my cell to await my hearing in the Magistrates Court, which was now postponed by what was being called, a Medical Event. I was eventually transferred to the court and I had another Angina attack in the holding cell below the Magistrates Court and had to suffer it because my Angina medication was withheld from me. After appearing before the Magistrates, I was bailed to appear at a series of hearings in relation to the case. It was then that I discovered that my medication along with my few belonging were in sealed bags, as it was assumed I would be remanded in custody.
    Whilst the Bulgaria prison system is a nightmare, they at least made my medication available on time, and I had a daily Doctors examination. During the time I was on bail in the UK, I find it incredible in the extreme that I was not interviewed. It was only at the first of several hearings that I even saw a member of the investigating team. Had I been interviewed I doubt whether the case would have gone to trial and saved a lot of taxpayers money. I feel it was not about justice, but trophy hunting, carried out by an inept and unprofessional investigating team.
    When I attended a case management hearing at xxxxx Crown Court, the Judge, stated ‘’ This defendant should never have been extradited from Bulgaria’’and invited my barrister to apply for a stay of proceeding on the grounds of Abuse of Process. At the next hearing he declared the case against me in relation to the 13 charges alleged by J.T., which included the 3 allegations of rape, an abuse of process and stayed proceedings.
    This took away thirteen of the charges relating to J.T., leaving eight charges alleged by J.D.. However this number was reduced to six, and the dates altered to exclude an earlier alleged offence because I would have been under fourteen years of age at the time. It also excluded a later charge that was said to have taken place in 1974/5 when my Army records placed me in Germany. My Military service record was obtained by the investigating officer at the onset of the investigation. How my records were obtained is also an enigma, the exhibits list stated that they were collected by the Investigating team from Portsmouth. My records are not held at Portsmouth but, at The Household Division Regimental HQ Wellington Barracks London. I myself had obtained a copy of my records around that time to prepare my defence. It may be a coincidence that one of the investigating team members had a son passing out from the Royal Marines in that area at the time. Had the investigating team done their job in a professional manner, and check those records, they would have seen that for most of the alleged charges I was, married and away from the family home or out of the country serving in the Army at the time of J.D. allegations. Despite the obvious need for the collection of my Army records they was never any reference to them in my trial by the prosecution, I assume because they proved my case. It appeared to me that the prosecution were shuffling charges around to try and find suitable dates to fit their case.
    The remaining charges were all centred around the complaints, made by J.D. after her supposed memory recovery, of events that allegedly happened to her when she was a child. This recovery of memories was supposed to have happened whilst in the shower in Tenerife. The investigating officer had sight of a letter from J.D. to a family member which confirmed this was untrue, and that the supposed memory loss was a complete sham. J.D. commited perjury in both her written and DVD statements and in court. She even tried to change her story in court, to the amazement of the Judge and both Barristers. One of J.D. witnesses, her daughter XXXX, was never cross examined, and therefore it was not revealed that her mother, J.D. was talking about taking XXXX s son, XXXX , to Disneyland with the compensation she would get, long before the trial ever started. Throughout this eight month ordeal I was never interviewed by the Police and my side of events were not related to anyone other than my legal representative until an hour before my trial finished. The jury were told to retire, pick a foreperson and consider a verdict. Within forty six minutes they had done this and returned a verdict of not guilty to all six charges.
    This case has caused my family and I to suffer ill health. I have had more problems with my heart complaint during this period, than the whole of the ten years since my bypass operation.
    That eight month nightmare has caused my family and myself untold grief and stress, great personal financial loss, and extreme health problems, for myself, my Mother and my Brother, he having to take early retirement , due to stress caused by this court case. I had to spend money I could ill afford on, clothes, board and lodge at my brothers, transport fares to be able to appear on bail days three times a week, paying wages for someone to look after my animals and house in Bulgaria and return tickets home to Bulgaria. I find that a legal system that can support a network of lies brought about by a convicted fraudster J.D., and an habitual drug and drink user J.T., can reduce to tatters the character of someone like myself who, has served and bled for his country, received police commendations and worked every day of his life, truly flawed. The humiliation of means testing in order to get legal aid to fight my case. What I find truly amazing is that I was not interviewed at any time during the investigation. My fate in the hands of a Barrister whatever his capabilities may have been. J.T.’s true character was revealed when the charges in relation to her, were stayed. She besieged the Crown Court Building, under the influence of Drugs and Drink. Hurling abuse at passers by, including members of the jury hearing my case. This action by her resulted in a new trial, and the judge ordering that she be charged with, perverting the course of justice and contempt of court. Whether she was ever charged with these offences I have no idea. Over two years later and I still have health problems with my back and lungs relating directly to the time I spent in a Bulgarian prison.
    I would be the first to agree that complaints of this nature need to be followed up. I would however stress that they should be investigated in a proper and thorough manner. With regard afforded not only to complainants but also to the person accused , who should be deemed innocent until found otherwise. The justice system should not be about, one up man ship, feathers in caps and enhancing young Detective Constables careers. Peoples very lives are at stake and should not be taken lightly. I can tell you that the night I was brought into XXXXX Police station. That there was an atmosphere surrounding my custody and without exception the staff assumed my guilt and I was treated as such.

    Comment


    • #3
      Great post Mickw - sorry to hear that, highlights of abuse of process were particulaly interesting

      Comment


      • #4
        What an horrific experience Mickw. Absolutely appalling. I'm glad you got the right verdict but so sorry you had to go through all that to get it.
        'Mongolian Warriors had the courage of lions, the patience of hounds, the prudence of cranes, the long-sightedness of ravens, the wildness of wolves, the passion of fightingcocks, the keenness of cats, the fury of wild boars and the cunning of foxes.' BE A MONGOLIAN WARRIOR WHEN DEFENDING YOUR INNOCENCE!

        Comment


        • #5
          It has been over 2 years now since I went through my ordeal. I hope my story gives some one hope that you can beat these horribly accusations.It has not finished for me, I still think about it every day and have feelings of anger at the way I have been treated. I still get hairs stand up on my neck every time I see a Police car. It is good to have a site like this to at least get your feelings aired among people who know what it is like to be falsely accused.

          Mick

          Comment


          • #6
            Hi Mick,
            Cannot believe the police were that naïve thinking you were some fugitive in hiding,particularly being the intelligent person you obviously are. I mean really?? there's countries without extradition orders you could have easily hidden in..
            It just seems like one shambles after another. What with failure to interview you ,held without charge in the Bulgaria prison cell for 15 days, making up false charges just to be able to issue an arrest warrant to bring you back to the UK.
            At least justice prevailed in the end and you are now proven an innocent man.You must now look towards the future
            Take Care,
            Silver xx

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