Police rape review after Oxford student case collapses
A SECOND police force is conducting an urgent review of all its rape cases after a series of blunders led to the collapse of the prosecution of an Oxford University student.
A judge criticised Surrey Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, giving them 28 days to explain what had gone wrong or face “action”.
It prompted both police and the CPS to apologise for “mistakes” in the investigation into a claim of rape made against Oliver Mears, 19. Mr Mears, of Horley, Surrey, spent two years on bail accused of raping and assaulting a woman in July 2015 when he was 17. The chemistry student, who left St Hugh’s College, Oxford because of stress, was declared not guilty and the case against him dropped days before the start of his trial.
Surrey Police’s decision to examine current rape cases follows a review by Scotland Yard of all of its sex crime investigations that was prompted by the collapse of two prosecutions in a week.
Surrey Police admitted yesterday it had failed to examine the woman’s phone and laptop at the outset of its inquiry two years ago. The force only did so after a request was made by the CPS on Jan 4. The evidence was passed to the CPS on Monday. The woman’s diary, which supported Mr Mears’s version of events, was also only obtained in recent days.
Judge Jonathan Black ordered the head of the CPS Rape and Sexual Offences unit to write to him within 28 days “with a full explanation of what went wrong” before he decides whether any action is required “at CPS or police level”.
The judge said: “There have been unnecessary delays in investigating … leading to what seems to be a completely unnecessary last-minute decision in this case.
“Oliver Mears and the complainant have had this matter hanging over their heads for two years in circumstances, had the investigation been carried out properly in the first instance, would not have led to this position.”
Jon Savell, Surrey Police’s head of public protection, said: “We accept that there were flaws in the initial investigation. We will work with the CPS to conduct a joint review of this case.”
Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS South-east, said: “We accept that we could have worked with police more effectively and that this could have brought about an earlier decision to end this case.” The CPS offered no evidence against Mr Mears during a hearing at Guildford Crown Court yesterday. The court heard that Mr Mears’ lawyers had been asking for the diary since October last year.
Mr Mears, who was arrested just weeks after celebrating his 17th birthday, decided to leave Oxford as a result of the strain he was under.
Yesterday, the college said he would be welcomed back. A spokesman said: “Students who suspend their studies can make the choice whether to come back or not.”