Couple demand answers after false 40-year sex-crime record

Reporter: Alex Carey
Date published: 15 September 2014


A MAN was left with a false sexual offence record for more than 40 years - after punching someone in a bar fight.

Greater Manchester Police told Oldham Social Services that David Wilkins had dragged a woman into a ditch in 1965 and tried to remove her underwear.

But David, now 68, was actually involved in a scuffle in Germany while in the Army. He turned and punched in the face someone who turned out to be a female military police officer.

David’s wife, Brenda (69), of Fitton Hill, is looking for answers after the false record led to the couple losing access to her grandson for 18 months.

The couple moved to Cornwall in 2000 and didn’t discover the false allegation on David’s record until 2005, when Brenda’s grandson, of whom they had custody, was taken into social services care for what was supposed to be a two-week break.

The couple ended up not seeing the child for 18 months - because Oldham Social Services passed the false information to their Cornish colleagues.

David said: “How can something like this happen? It’s absolutely outrageous. When I found out what was actually on my record, I was disgusted. I want an explanation and an apology.”

Bill Glen, Devon and Cornwall Police’s national computer manager, told David he would review David’s record and correct inaccuracies. “The record detailed the offence at Detmold, Germany, and subsequent discharge from the Army. The details show the MoD has no record which suggested you committed a sexual offence,” he said in a letter.

Oldham Council has confirmed it acted on information provided by GMP.

Brenda said: “All we have ever wanted to do is get on with our lives but without an apology and explanation we simply can’t.”