Injured man cleared of pothole-trip con

A MAN accused of attempting to con Oldham Council with a bogus injury claim has been cleared of committing any offence.

Ryan Walker (35) was discharged from the dock after a trial jury was formally invited to return a not guilty verdict. They had heard only the prosecution’s opening when it became clear that there were potential difficulties with the Crown’s case.

After lengthy legal deliberations, prosecutor Mr David Pickup apologised to the jury, telling them that lawyers had been reviewing the case.

He told them: “We feel now it would not be proper to pursue the matter, and offer no further evidence.”

Trial judge Timothy Mort told the jury: “I’m afraid it really is as cryptic as that.

“There has been a revelation about something which caused an investigation that led to the Crown deciding that they cannot sustain a prosecution.”

The jury had been told at the trial opening that the Crown’s case was that Mr Walker, from Featherstall Road, Oldham, had suffered a broken nose, a hairline fracture to the jaw and lost 31/2 teeth in what they said remained an unexplained incident.

Mr Pickup said he had returned to his then home in Mona Road, Chadderton, covered in blood on an evening early in June, 2006. He had gone to work earlier in the day wearing a suit, but returned in different clothing.

He told his partner Erin Wilde that he had tripped and fallen on an uneven road surface, but later gave differing accounts of exactly where it had happened.

It was alleged that he then decided to make a claim against Oldham Council for compensation for his injuries, saying their neglect had caused him to trip on a kerb and fall on to the road.

The court heard that Mr Walker had engaged solicitors to act for him, and in mid-2007 submitted a claim against Oldham Council.

While that was still being dealt with however, he and his partner who had been having difficulties, ended their relationship.

Out of the blue, the local authority received an anonymous letter, signed “A decent Oldham citizen”, alleging the claim was false.

The court was told the letter had been written by Ms Wilde’s mother, who would have been called with her daughter as a prosecution witness.

Mr Walker was also said to have received a letter from his partner’s mother after the break-up of the relationship, telling him to “watch his back”.

Mr Walker maintained he had been shocked at allegations of a false claim, and said it had been down to “a woman scorned”.

He had pleaded not guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation.