Student wrongly accused of rape says he will sue police and CPS as he questions why he was made to stand trial

Crown Prosecution Service 검찰(CPS) Student wrongly accused of rape says he will sue police and CPS as he questions why he was made to stand trial by Victoria Ward 17 DECEMBER 2017 • 1:39 PM A student wrongly tried for rape after police failed to hand over vital evidence that exonerated him has vowed to sue the police and the CPS as he called for a change to the system. Liam Allan, 22, who was accused of six rapes and six sexual assaults, spent almost two years on bail and was three days into his trial at Croydon Crown Court when the prosecuting barrister sensationally announced he was halting proceedings because crucial information had not been provided to the defence team. That evidence comprised a cache of sex texts sent from his alleged victim, including one, sent to a friend just weeks before Mr Allan was arrested, reportedly saying: “It wasn’t against my will or anything.” Others detailed her secret fantasies about being raped and choked during sex. The detective in charge of the case recommended months ago that Mr Allan should not be charged because the case against him was so weak, it is claimed. But despite that, the CPS(검찰) pressed on, charging him in January last year. Speaking out about the case for the first time, Mr Allan questioned why the texts, which “clearly undermine” the woman’s case were not disclosed and said he felt he had “no choice” but to sue. “My life was completely upended,” he told the Mail on Sunday. “There were points where I felt completely alone because of what I was going through but you have to act strong for your family.” Mr Allan, from south east London, described how he had met the teenager at a social gathering, having been introduced by mutual friends. He said he was aware she was “troubled” and had not previously had a sexual relationship but insisted this made him more cautious. “I wanted to do everything I could to make her feel comfortable,” he said. “You want to make sure that it's important and special, and every fear and worry is gone before you do it. “I didn't want her to regret it because nobody ever wants anyone to regret their first time.” He added: “Most people I get on with and consider close friends are women, so for me it was about respect. That was the most important thing.” But, still a teenager himself, Mr Allan said she had some “issues” he just did not know how to deal with which left him feeling “drained”. After starting a criminology and criminal psychology course at Greenwich University, he ended the relationship, but just weeks later, he was arrested in front of his mother as he returned home from playing football. A year later, in February this year, Mr Allan said he called Detective Constable Mark Azariah who led the police investigation, for an update. “He said he recommended in his report to the CPS that I should not face charges,” he said. But two hours later, he received a call to say he was being charged. He spent almost two years on bail before police eventually handed his defence team thousands of text messages that would exonerate him. It is understood that while the phone had been downloaded, much of the material had not been examined in detail, possibly due to pressure of work within the investigation team. Scotland Yard has announced it is urgently reviewing the police investigation in tandem with the CPS. But legal experts said this could pave the way for a string of appeals amid concern that other cases had not been investigated and handled properly by the police and CPS.