[2025] EWHC 2684 (KB)

It is (and has consistently been) the Claimants’ case that the investigating officers did not honestly believe in the guilt of the Claimants but nevertheless sought to achieve their conviction. The suggestion put to witnesses was that this was because of the pressure they perceived they were under from senior officers to secure a conviction. The Defendant’s closing submissions pointed out the inherent contradiction within the case as advanced at trial.

“…the Claimants called a series of witnesses whose evidence was to the effect that the investigating officers appeared convinced that the Claimants were guilty. Moreover, all of the police witnesses were explicitly challenged to the effect that they had a “mindset of guilt” and/or that they regarded the Claimants as guilty.”

As an overarching finding I am satisfied, not just on balance but so that I am sure that none of the officers who gave evidence believed, at any stage before the trial, that the Claimants were innocent. Quite the reverse. Indeed despite what happened at trial it was clear to me that DS Brownsell still believes that the Claimants were guilty of some element of fraud in respect of the charges levied for extra care.