In September 2017, the Manager of the Barrow-in-Furness Poundstretcher store reported to Cumbria Police that “Jimmy Raymond” had stolen several tins of salmon. He also provided a CCTV picture of ‘Jimmy’, a man in his 20’s/30’s, of slim build, clean shaven and with dark hair.
An officer carried out a search on the Police National Computer and came up with the details of my client James Raymond Connors. Mr Connors (now aged 61) had a number of convictions for minor offences in his youth (going back to the 1970s) but had turned his life around, and settled down as a family man. He had no convictions more recent than 1991.
The next day, Police officers of Cumbria Police in possession of the CCTV picture of the wanted man called round to my client’s house. They were met by my client, an overweight man in his 60’s with grey hair and a beard. Notwithstanding that my client bore no resemblance to the suspect he was arrested and his home searched for ‘stolen items’. He was then transported in a van to Barrow Police station where he was processed and then interviewed, after which he was taken back before the custody sergeant and released.
I brought a claim against Cumbria Constabulary who denied liability. Following the institution of court proceedings, Cumbria agreed to settle my client’s claim and paid substantial damages and his legal costs.
All names changed.
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