Convictions quashed for men framed by corrupt detective

Christopher Poulter and Kevin Biggs have had their convictions for stealing mailbags overturned, 50 years after they were found guilty. The Court of Appeal allowed their appeals on Tuesday. Mr Poulter was 21 and Mr Biggs was 18 when they were convicted in 1976 of taking 13 mailbags from a railway wagon at Clapham goods yard in south London.

Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell of British Transport Police was one of three officers who stated they witnessed the men take the bags and drive away. Mr Biggs died in 2004, and his relatives were not present for the appeal. Mr Poulter attended the hearing.

Read Next in London Travel News3 min read

Southeastern trains suspended between Charing Cross and Hayes this weekend

Engineering work will close lines between Ladywell and Hayes, with further disruption at Cannon Street and Greenwich on Sunday.

Evidence of corrupt officer

The Criminal Cases Review Commission referred the case earlier this year after new information emerged regarding Ridgewell's misconduct. Ridgewell was imprisoned for seven years in 1980 for stealing goods valued at over £1 million. The commission stated that he had a history of framing young black men for offences he himself had committed.

During their trial at Inner London Crown Court, Mr Poulter and Mr Biggs maintained they had spent the entire evening at a pub in Tooting before their arrest. Mr Poulter received a one-year prison sentence, and Mr Biggs was sent to borstal.

Related Borough Coverage2 min read

St John's station to unveil memorial for 1957 rail disaster

A plaque will commemorate the 90 lives lost and many injuries sustained in a collision involving an electric and a steam train.

The case came to light as part of an investigation by British Transport Police to identify individuals convicted based on Ridgewell's testimony. Mr Poulter and Mr Biggs are the 14th and 15th people to have convictions overturned due to his actions. A third man, Stephen Simmons, who was convicted alongside them, had his conviction quashed in 2018.

Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Lavender and Mr Justice Linden, noted that the appeals should have been heard with Mr Simmons's case, but Mr Poulter and Mr Biggs's relatives had not been located at that time. Ridgewell died in prison in 1982 at the age of 37.

Jenny Wiltshire, a solicitor representing many of Ridgewell's victims, described the delay by British Transport Police in identifying affected individuals as a "disgrace". She stated that it had been half a century since the men were convicted of a crime they did not commit. Ms Wiltshire added that the police force knew for certain that the officer whose evidence led to their imprisonment was corrupt shortly after their conviction, and likely much earlier. She noted that the force's inaction meant Mr Poulter lived most of his life as a convicted criminal, and Mr Biggs died as one.

What happens next

British Transport Police have been approached for comment on the matter. It is unclear if any further action will be taken regarding the historical misconduct of Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell.