O’Toole, Patrick

Patrick O’Toole was convicted in May 1978 of robbery and received a sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in August 2001.

The case against Mr O’Toole had relied on the evidence of two police officers from the West Midlands Police Serious Crime Squad (WMSCS).

Following the trial, the credibility of these two officers was significantly discredited.

In 1989, the WMSCS was disbanded. West Yorkshire Police conducted an enquiry into the activities of the squad under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority.

A substantial number of convictions arising from investigations conducted by the squad were quashed as a result of concerns regarding the working practices adopted by officers in the squad.

Malpractice amongst members of the squad, identified as a result of the enquiry, included the physical abuse of prisoners, fabrication of admissions, planting of evidence, and mishandling of informants.

The CCRC considered that had what was now known about officers of the WMSCS been known at the time of Mr O’Toole’s trial, the defence would have been able to challenge their credibility.

The CCRC referred the conviction in September 2004.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in February 2006.