Not Guilty: In fact, No Evidence Whatsoever...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3uMgcRUYBs

A report in the Western Gazette. Yeovil. Somerset.

Roy Catchpole – Not Guilty Verdict

"At a hearing last Wednesday 6th January at Bournemouth Crown Court His Hon. Judge Roberts made a finding of not guilty in relation to the trial of the Queen -v- Rev Roy Catchpole after the prosecution offered no evidence."

"Following the not guilty verdict, Rev Catchpole expressed his relief that the past eighteen months ordeal was now over. Throughout the process, he has been aware that the wider public in Sherborne and surrounding area have been incredibly supportive. He has been nobly served by barristers whose energies have been directed to getting the truth and justice. He and his family are very grateful for this, and they wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers, messages of support, visits, finance and phone calls. Roy Catchpole is very relieved although pretty well exhausted now that the court process is finally over and he has been found not guilty on all charges. His hope and prayer is that all concerned will now be able to get on with their lives and, like him, begin the process of recovery."

"It was discovered, during the course of the trial, that the alleged victim had been a complainant in another trial in 1994 against a Mr Sandford. In that trial the alleged victim gave some very unusual detailed evidence against Mr. Sandford and it became apparent during this trial against Roy Catchpole that she gave almost the same identically unusual detailed evidence. That, together with a psychiatric report, which illustrated a history of hallucinations and flashbacks clearly showed that her evidence against Roy was unreliable and unbelievable."

Sherborne Food Bank

"Asked if he intends to take up his previous roles with numerous local organisations, including the Sherborne Food Bank, he said that he would now be reviewing his future choice of commitments. It will be a while before he is recovered sufficiently to step back into the life he had before the trial.

One thing he will be doing is continuing with his drumming on the local festival scene and in various church groups."

In fact the finding of Judge Roberts was not simply that I was not guilty. His finding was that there was no evidence to offer against me.

In the name of the Crown, he justifiably took the most unusual step of offering me a personal apology for a wrongful conviction. His Honour then went on to award travelling expenses to those good friends and supporters who had helped me and my family through the 18 months of extreme social and emotional trauma.