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The Court of Appeal allowed an appeal against the conviction of a mother found guilty by the Circuit Court of multiple counts of sexual abuse and child neglect relating to her three disabled children. The only evidence against the appellant consisted of statements she made during a safeguarding assessment, conducted not by police but by professionals engaged by a statutory agency. These statements were ruled admissible at retrial, but the Court of Appeal found significant new evidence of inducements, oppression and unfairness during the assessment interviews—particularly in the manner of questioning on the final days—that had not been before the appellate courts previously, rendering the confessions unreliable. As the prosecution was based solely on these statements, the Court quashed the convictions, and, with the Director of Public Prosecutions declining to pursue a retrial, ordered the appellant's acquittal on all charges.
appeal against conviction – sexual abuse allegations – child neglect – admissibility of statements – oppression and inducement – voluntariness of confession – safeguarding assessment – role of statutory agency – risk and safeguarding interviews – polygraph evidence – Circuit Court original trial – second trial with new evidence – Court of Appeal – Supreme Court prior ruling – DPP declining retrial – acquittal – Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 – Children Act 2001 – right to fair trial
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