In 2002 former Southampton football club manager David Jones stood in the dock

NOT
It’s F.A.C.T.
at Liverpool crown court facing 21 charges of abuse of children at a Merseyside
GUILTY children’s home during the 1970's and 80's. The trial was stopped after four days
and Jones was acquitted.

In 2002 Anver Sheikh was accused of sexually assaulting two youths at the care
INNOCENT
NOT
GUILTY
home where he worked 20 years earlier. In 2004 his solicitor found records
proving that Anver Sheikh had not been at the home at the relevant time: his
conviction was quashed but he was sent for retrial. His accusers changed the dates
People Imprisoned
in their statements and he was convicted again. In 2006 his solicitor uncovered
evidence that showed his accusers had lied . His conviction was quashed and he
was freed in October 2006.

In 2003 Basil Williams-Rigby and Michael Lawson were released after serving three
NOT
GUILTY
years in prison for offences alleged to have been committed at an approved school
in Merseyside in the 1970's and 80's The Court of Appeal quashed their conviction.

In 2004 George Anderson and Margaret Hewitt were convicted in 2004 on 70

counts of abusing children at a Barnardo’s home more than 20 years earlier. Their
NOT
GUILTY
convictions were quashed in 2005 after one complainant admitted that his
allegation was entirely invented, and alleged that the other complainants had lied.
At the appeal hearing it was alleged that one police officer gathering evidence had
taken the complainants to see a compensation lawyer before arrests had even
been made. Since this time F.A.C.T. has become aware of dozens of carers,
teachers and others who maintain they are their innocent of the offences for
which they have been convicted.

r seri-

Itcouldbe
lives ruined o “
e had their
rs] hav
d teache

“ a n t 2002
r e rs ittee, Oc
o f [ ca ions. ct Comm
numbers founded allegat ome Aff
airs Sele
..... large yu n H
m a ge d b
ously da

YOU!
M ay 2007
ncellor,
. Lord Cha
ions
to fals e allegat
ulnerable
c he rs are very v
Tea
 male nurses
fear sexual
abuse charge
F.A.C.T. (Falsely Accused Carers and Teachers)
is a voluntary organisation which supports carers and
Public Warning
if they touch
patients teachers who have been falsely accused and/or
Sun day Tri bun e,
12 Ma rch 200 7 wrongly convicted of child abuse, and campaigns on
If someone close to YOU
their behalf for changes in investigative practice, and works with children or
Children’s
Commissioner
for reform of the criminal justice system. vulnerable adults ...
says adults are
now scared F.A.C.T. recognises that in the past some carers and
to work with … you could see them unjustly dragged through the courts, vilified as a
children teachers have abused children but says false
monster, and taken away from their family to serve a long prison sentence.
BB C Sco tlan d,
16 Jan 200 7
allegations have snowballed to such an extent that “if
you work, or have ever worked, with children you F.A.C.T. believes that at least 120 people working in the teaching, caring, and
related professions have already been imprisoned for crimes they did not
abuse claim now stand a very good chance of being wrongly commit. Most stand convicted of historic sexual abuse said to have taken
islander weeps accused of abuse”.
as key witness place as long as 40 years ago.
admits telling
All of them maintain their innocence even though this means they will have to
lies
Gla sgo w Her ald ,
For more information please contact serve longer sentences for doing so.
26 Sep t 200 6 F.A.C.T., P.O. Box 3074, Cardiff CF3 3WZ
We have every sympathy with those who have genuinely been abused and
Phone 02920 777 499. Email: sec@factuk.org or support them in wishing to see justice done. Unfortunately many individuals
Come off
visit www.factuk.org are now are now making untrue allegations, often for psychological reasons,

Published by F.A.C.T. P.O. Box 3074 Cardiff, CF3 3WZ

it folks, or financial payments with compensation that may run into tens of
how many
Membership is open to carers, teachers, thousands of pounds.
paedophiles Teacher who
can there be? social workers, health care professionals, died in prison The frightening fact is that once accused, your chances of successfully
is cleared defending yourselves are very slim. Decades later there is no forensic
Daily Telegraph,
9 No v 200 6
clergy, youth and community workers posthumously
evidence, witnesses may have died, and records which could have exonerated
sports coaches and foster parents. of rape
them have been lost or destroyed. It’s your word against someone elses.
Leeds Today,
If two people 25 April 2006 When faced with simply deciding who is lying juries are inclined to favour the
accuse you, child or vulnerable adult.
then you are
t Doctor’s a
ccuser Foster carers deserve
guilty. They ge had record protection from The devastating result is that people who have dedicated their working lives
compensation, of
to helping others are rewarded with a prison sentence, accused of the most
lies and fa Jai led ab use malicious allegations
you get jail lse
allegations teach ers are The Times, heinous of crimes, while their families are left to face the pointing fingers and
ra ph , 17 Oct 200 6
Su nd ay Te leg inn ocen t
23 Oc t 20 06 The Times
,
Sco tlan d on Sun day ,
to cope alone.
2 0 S ep t 2
006
25 Jun e 200 6