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On
the morning of 15th January 1998, James (Jimmy) Ashley was shot dead by
Christopher Sherwood, Sussex Police. The cover up that ensued, led to the
resignation of Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse, on the insistence of
David Blunkett.
It
may just be an incredible coincidence, but Wealden District Council gave
false intelligence to Hailsham police, saying that Victor had firearms
at his workshop, knowing full well from previous raids, that there were
only sporting air rifles, and no firearms. This was a deliberate attempt
to inveigle the police to use deadly force. The motive for which was
that Victor had closed the door to the workshop, to bar David Phillips
and Christine Nuttal from entering the premises, as he was leaving.
David Phillips went to push past Victor, who stood firm, even when
Phillips used more force than he should have.
Previously,
David Phillips, working with Ms Nuttall and Vic Scarpa, had fabricated
evidence for the High Court, using a picture taken long before, and
saying it was recent. Unfortunately for Phillips and Nuttall, there was
a scratch on the negatives of the earlier photographs, clearly
identifiable on the pictures Phillips claimed he'd taken recently. The
attempt to pervert the course of justice, by Wealden's officers, was
swept under the carpet, as with their other deceptions of planning
inspectors. And, much like the police officers who were involved in the
raid on James Ashley's flat, the CPS said there was no case to answer.
Whereas, Kent and Hampshire police, said Sussex police was corrupt. This
was not reported by the BBC, who sanitized their media reports. So as to
fool the public into thinking all is well in Britain. Allegedly.
BBC
COVERAGE: 22 MAY 2001 - DEAD MAN'S FAMILY TO SUE POLICE
The family of an unarmed man shot dead by police intend to sue the force after three senior officers were cleared of any wrongdoing over his death.
James
Ashley, 39, died during a police raid at his home in St Leonards, East Sussex, at 0400GMT on 15 January, 1998.
Supt Christopher Burton, Acting Det Chief Insp Kevin French and Det Insp Christopher Siggs were cleared at Wolverhampton Crown Court after the judge ordered that not guilty verdicts be entered.
But the Crown Prosecution Service accused Sussex police of having a "culture of corporate failure."
The three officers were accused of having given false intelligence, over-estimating the threat posed by Mr Ashley and over-estimating the amount of drugs in the property.
Mr Ashley's two children said they would launch a civil action against Sussex Police alleging negligence.
The children, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said they would seek compensation for the loss of their father.
Their lawyer Brian Jackson said: "The family of James Ashley hoped those responsible for his death would be successfully prosecuted.
"Their hopes and faith in justice have been cruelly dashed."
Police marksman PC Chris Sherwood, who shot Mr Ashley, was cleared of unlawful killing last month after he said he had fired in self-defence.
Mr Ashley, who had a conviction for manslaughter, was in bed, naked and unarmed, with his girlfriend when armed police burst into his flat.
The court heard that officers were using the "Bermuda technique" - whereby they storm a property trying to create as much confusion as possible.
The raid was part of an investigation into an attempted murder and alleged drugs trafficking.
In a damning prosecution statement Sussex police were accused of having a "culture of corporate failure".
The court was told the intelligence officer on the raid had only been in the job for a month - two weeks of which he had been on annual leave.
And the scenes officer had no experience of being on such an operation before.
Nigel Sweeney QC, prosecuting, said the decision to offer no evidence had been taken because there was no longer a realistic prospect of securing convictions in the case.
Speaking after the hearing, Paul Whitehouse, Chief Constable of Sussex Police, described the fatal shooting as a tragic accident.
But he said he was pleased his officers had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
"What we have to recognise is that police officers need to carry firearms from time to time.
"Sometimes those firearms will be used and there will be very regrettable consequences.
"This was a very regrettable consequence and I am very sorry that James Ashley died.
"But if it is necessary for police officer's to carry firearms they will occasionally use them and we must recognise that fact and not pretend that firearms are there just for show."
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CHARACTERS:
PROTAGONISTS
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DESCRIPTION
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Victor
von Woolfe
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Planning
campaigner, framed for exposing local corruption, the victim
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Victor's
niece |
Grilled
by social services as to Briony's allegations, being untrue
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Victor's
sister |
Told
by Victor's solicitors that her testimony would be worthless
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James
Ashley
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Hastings
man shot dead by Sussex police marksman, Chris Sherwood
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Hayes
Hodges Media
investigator 1#
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Discovers
Victor is innocent, evidence was crafted to frame
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Alex
Roxborough
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Vision21
Film producer, is valiant enough to tell Victor's story
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Cecilia
Cunningham
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Vision21
Film CEO, who finally agrees this story has to be told
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Debbie
Dixon
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Vision21
Film director, who wants to tell Victor's story
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Media
investigator 2#
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Reveals
shortcomings in justice system, no right of appeal in UK
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Media
investigator 3#
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Campaigns
for changes in the law, to protect the falsely accused
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Momo
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Another
man convicted on massaged evidence from Sussex police
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Simba
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A
feral feline, that patrols the workshop grounds
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Student
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Who
refused to make a false complaint to social services
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Student's
mother
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Who
refused social services request to help them with a false
complaint
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CHARACTERS:
ANTAGONISTS
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DESCRIPTION
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Alex
Norris
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Lord
Chancellor and secretary
of state for justice
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Andy
Burnham
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Manchester
MP, unopposed Labour party Prime Minister July 2026
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Andy
Wooley
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Reform
UK councillor, leader of East Sussex County Council 2026
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Anne
Keast-Butler
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GCHQ
director - Government Communications Headquarters
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Becky
Shaw
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Chief
Executive of ESCC, overseeing social services
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Blaise Metreweli CMG
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SIS
(MI6)
Secret Intelligence Service - working alongside MI5
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Briony
Weston-Smyth
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15
year old aggrieved at Victor calling off an engagement to her
mum
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Christine
Nuttall
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Former
(corrupt) solicitor, Wealden District Council, allegedly
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Dame
Angela Eagle DBE
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Energy
secretary, and National
Security Council member
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Dame
Vera Baird KC
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Chair
of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)
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David
Blunkett MP
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Blindly, pushed through the Sexual Offences
(Favours) Act 2003
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David
Lammy MP
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Secretary
of State for justice, Lord Chancellor
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David
Phillips
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Morally
and criminally corrupt enforcement officer, allegedly
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Derek
Holness
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Corrupt
Wealden chief executive, allegedly
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Elizabeth
Carter
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Highly
qualified medical expert in sexual assault and rape cases
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Ellie
Reeves
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Attorney
General in the PM's
2026 Cabinet, replacing David Lammy
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Geoff
Johnson
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Corrupt
Wealden solicitor, allegedly
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George
Weston
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Masonic
grand master, grandfather of Briony, out for revenge
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Giles York
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Sussex
police chief constable who resigned over cell death
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Gordon
Staker
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Police
detective sergeant, interrogator, who breached code of conduct
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Henrietta
Padgett KC
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A
career barrister, ruthless, aiming at a conviction, no matter
what
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High
Court Judge 1#
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CCRC
"entitled to take a view."
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High
Court Judge 2#
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CCRC
"entitled to take a view."
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High
Court Judge 3#
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CCRC
"entitled to take a view."
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Ian
Kay
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Corrupt
assistant district planning officer, allegedly
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James
Hookway
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Police
detective constable investigator who breached code of conduct
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Jo
Shiner
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Sussex
police chief constable
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Joseph
Cedric
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Incompetent
Hove Crown Court Judge, CPS patsy, allegedly
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Julian
Dale
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Local
barrister out of depth, allegedly failed to challenge medicals
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Keith Lyndsay
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Detective Sergeant,
who willfully refused to investigate planning crimes
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Keir
Starmer
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Former
CPS prosecutor, then PM elected on broken promises
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King
Charles III
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The
ruling monarch at the time of Victor fighting the system
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Michael
Harrison
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London
based appeal barrister, so-called, sex case specialist
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Melanie
Liebenberg MBChB
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Dr
who misled the Jury at Hove Crown Court, as to medical
evidence
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Paul
Whitehouse
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Allegedly
corrupt, Sussex
police chief constable 1993 - 2001
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Peter
Coll
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Sussex
police inspector, who knew about planning crimes
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Philip
Baker
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ESCC
solicitor and monitoring officer
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Shabana
Mahmood
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Secretary
of state for the Home
Department, NSC member
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Shannon
Weston-Smyth
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Mother
of complainant, aggrieved at Victor for annulling engagement
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Simon
Ross
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Fictional
BBC reporter and former Panorama investigator
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Sir
Christopher Holland
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High
Court judge who fudged tick in box, allegedly
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Sir
Ken McCallum
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British
intelligence officer, MI5
director general, working alongside MI6
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Social
worker 1#
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ESCC
investigator, tried to persuade Victor's niece to fabricate
allegation
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Social
worker 2#
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ESCC
investigator, tried to persuade Student to make a false
allegation
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Stephen
Field
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Barrister
seeking leave to Review CCRC's refusal to refer to appeal
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Stuart
Grace
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Eastbourne
appeal
solicitor, failed to obtain medical transcript
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Tim
Stirmey
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Eastbourne
solicitor who refused to investigate medical issues
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Trevor
Scott
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Former
legal head, corrupt CEO, Wealden District Council, allegedly
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Vesper
Weston
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Briony's
Grandmother, social services, knew Dr Liebenberg, allegedly
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Wes
Streeting
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NSC
& Cabinet member 2026, defence secretary of state
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REFERENCE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1344267.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1344267.stm
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