Teenager wrongly accused of rape because of DNA contamination is released from prison

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Teenager wrongly accused of rape because of DNA contamination is released from prison

March 10th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Mr Scott was arrested in Devon and taken to Manchester for questioning
He continually denied the allegation and insisted he’d never even been to the city
London laboratory LGC has apologised for the error
Other rape and murder cases could have been compromised

By
Pamela Owen

PUBLISHED:

06:32 EST, 10 March 2012

|

UPDATED:

06:32 EST, 10 March 2012

Mr Scott's DNA was contaminated with the rape victim's

Mr Scott’s DNA was contaminated with the rape victim’s

A teenager who spent months behind bars wrongly accused of rape after a DNA blunder has spoken of his ‘relief, anger and disgust’ after the charge was dropped.

Adam Scott, 19, was due to stand trial next month in connection with a sex attack on a woman at Plant Hill Park in Blackley.

His DNA – taken in connection with a separate matter – had contaminated a sample from the victim while being processed at a laboratory run by LGC Forensics.

Mr Scott, from Truro in Cornwall, is
now considering taking legal action – and his lawyers are calling for a
public inquiry into the blunder, which could lead to other rape and
murder cases being reopened.

Mr
Scott was arrested in Devon about three weeks after the October 2 rape
and brought to Manchester after the results of the compromised DNA test
were sent to cops.

During interview he insisted that he had never even been to Manchester.

But
LGC, a company used by Greater Manchester Police to carry out
scientific testing in thousands of cases a year, insisted there was a
definite match.

Mr Scott was charged despite his denials. At the time he had been on bail for an unconnected matter of affray.

After being charged with rape he spent nearly three months on remand, before beginning a year-long sentence for the affray.

Earlier
this week, after finding out the evidence was contaminated, the Crown
Prosecution Service (CPS) formally dropped the case at a Manchester
Crown Court hearing.

Mr Scott was stunned to find out what had gone on via videolink from prison in Exeter.

He said: ‘I am relieved that I have been found not guilty – but then I always was not guilty. I defended the allegation from the moment of my arrest.

‘I am angry that I was falsely accused. I am angry about the amount of pain it has put me and my family through.

‘I sincerely hope that justice comes for the victim and that the true rapist is caught.

‘I am disgusted that it has taken this long for them to work out what went wrong. I now want to move on with my life and put this horrible experience behind me.’

Adam’s mother, Michelle Scott, said the allegation had left her ‘distraught’.

She said: ‘I never for one minute believed he was guilty. I’m really glad the truth has come out – but how they managed to contaminate the evidence is beyond belief.

The teenager was held on remand at Strangeways prison, Manchester, after being arrested

‘I am very angry that my son has had to live through this experience and suffer the shame of being accused of being a rapist, whilst being locked up in prison.’

GMP has already begun an internal review of a small number of murder and rape cases in which DNA evidence assessed by LGC played a crucial role.

The scope of that probe may be extended in coming days or weeks. London-based LGC, which works for police forces across the country, has also started its own internal investigation, which might mean reviewing scores or even hundreds of cases.

The company has apologised and said it had ‘taken steps to ensure that it [the mistake] cannot happen again’.

Rundlewalker, the Exeter-based law firm representing Mr Scott, said they were ‘utterly astounded’ by the failings that led to his arrest, charge and detention for the rape allegation.

In a statement the firm said: ‘Had his case proceeded to trial and had the jury accepted the DNA evidence, he would have received a significant custodial sentence.

‘We remain fearful for any defendant indicted on DNA or other scientifc evidence that has been processed, is being processed or will be processed through LGC’s laboratory. We call for a public inquiry into the failings reported.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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Unbelievably negligent – not only does it affect the victim and the person wrongly accused but it also undermines confidence in DNA evidence in general. The fool responsible for this ought never to be allowed near material of such importance ever again, but of course the individual responsible will never actually be identified. There’ll be stony faced apologies read from a script drafted by lawyers, we’ll be assured “lessons have been learnt”, and be treated to the usual claptrap about drawing a line under it and moving on.

– Sdemnips, Birmingham, 10/3/2012 14:51

this was outsourced to cut costs, cutting costs always means cutting quality. That means more innocent people will suffer like this.
The worst part of this is that while he was locked up GMP stopped looking for the rapist who has probably raped again in the intervening months…

– JP, Bath, 10/3/2012 14:44

I think the lesson to be learned is not to get caught doing something wrong in the first place. If they didn’t have his DNA from the unrelated case then this would not have occurred.
That leads to the question about DNA samples being kept even if you are not charged or are found to be innocent.

– Mike, London, 10/3/2012 14:36

Pity the story doesn’t mentin what the victim had to say when he was charged. She would have known his name and age. If the rapist was not of his age then presumably she would have said it wasn’t him. I wonder if he could have still have been convicted if the error was not discovered even if she insisted that she had never eve3n seen this man in her life.

– john, london, 10/3/2012 14:13

I was under the impression that some geniuses believe that DNA is infallible.
What an awful story..no doubt they’ll keep the accusation on record for any future CRB check as well!

– AL, Lincs, 10/3/2012 13:47

The mind boggles: Arrested in Devon even though he had never been to Manchester! A Science Lab insisting its systems were in order! Accused of one of the most serious offences a man could face! To say nothing of the poor, abused victim who must now face the fact her attacker is still on the loose! Is there any aspect of present UK Justice that has the confidence and backing of the British public!?

– tommi konttinen, kangasniemi, finland, 10/3/2012 13:46

The first on many ??

– Hagar , Blackpool, 10/3/2012 13:41

And who didn’t forsee this sort of thing was going to happen when the Forensic Science Service was got rid of by the hapless morons in Westminster?

– paul, milton keynes, UK, 10/3/2012 13:32

DNA identification is a marvellous technology, however the human involvement is always prone to error. I hope the Lab is seriously reprimanded as they are dealing with people’s lives..! I hope the innocent man is compensated accordingly and I hope the real rapist can now be caught and brought to justice..!

– Ray, Blackpool England, 10/3/2012 13:31

It is worrying how the police relied so completely on science, when some old fashioned investigating may have proven his claims that he had never been to Manchester!

– EL, Devon, 10/3/2012 13:08

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