Skip to content
© Copyright, Criminal Cases Review Commission 2026.

First Magistrates’ Court convictions involving corrupt police officer Derek Ridgewell referred to Crown Court

Published:
  • CCRC has now sent 17 people’s convictions related to discredited police officer back to the courts 
  • Applicants in this case were teenagers when convicted 
  • CCRC Chair Dame Vera Baird KC case was ‘particularly challenging’ as most material had been destroyed 

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred two men’s convictions to the Crown Court because of the central role of corrupt British Transport Police officer Derek Ridgewell in their cases.  

The CCRC has already referred 15 convictions to the Court of Appeal based on new evidence about the corrupt nature of DS Ridgewell. All 15 of these convictions have been quashed.  

The current applicants, Andrew Sam and Wayne Green were convicted together, at Marlborough Magistrates’ Court on 15 January 1972 of attempted theft from a person. They were sentenced to three months’ detention. Mr Sam was 17 years old at the time of his conviction and Mr Green was 18. 

On 14 January 1972 Mr Sam and Mr Green had been stopped at Tottenham Court Road station in London. They said they had been approached by plain-clothes police officers. 

Both men pleaded guilty and DS Ridgewell gave evidence in the case.  

As Mr Sam and Mr Green pleaded guilty in the Magistrates’ Court, they had no ordinary right to appeal their convictions. However, they appealed their sentences to the Crown Court, and on 11 February 1972 their sentences were reduced to probation orders for three years.  

Applications to the CCRC for Mr Sam and Mr Green came via the British Transport Police, who are conducting their own investigation into DS Ridgewell’s misconduct.  

Following a review the CCRC has concluded that DS Ridgewell played a central role in the prosecution of Mr Sam and Mr Green, and as he has since been discredited, that new evidence raises a real possibility that the Crown Court would not uphold the convictions.  

CCRC Chair Dame Vera Baird KC said: “We have now referred 17 people’s convictions related to discredited officer Derek Ridgewell to the courts. If there are any more people who were prosecuted using the evidence of this corrupt police officer, we would ask them to get in touch, so we can consider their convictions in a similar way. 

“This was a particularly challenging case due to the age of the convictions; most of the material had been destroyed, but our previous referrals to the Court of Appeal paved the way for this referral.” 

[ENDS]  

Notes to Editor:  

  1. The CCRC is an independent body set up under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. It is responsible for independently reviewing suspected and alleged miscarriages of criminal justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is based in Birmingham and is funded by the Ministry of Justice.      
  1. There are currently 16 Commissioners who bring to the CCRC considerable experience from a wide variety of backgrounds. Commissioners are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Prime Minister in accordance with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.    
  1. The CCRC received more than 1,800 applications for reviews (convictions and/or sentences) last year. Since starting work in 1997, the CCRC has referred more than 900 cases to the appeal courts.        
  1. The CCRC considers whether, as a result of new evidence or argument, there is a real possibility that the conviction would not be upheld were a reference to be made. New evidence or argument is argument or evidence which has not been raised during the trial or on appeal.  Applicants should usually have appealed first. A case can be referred in the absence of new evidence or argument or an earlier appeal only if there are “exceptional circumstances”.       
  1. If a conviction is referred to the Crown Court it is for the Court to decide whether to uphold the conviction.  
  1. More details about the role and work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission can be found at www.ccrc.gov.uk. The CCRC can be found on X, Facebook, Instagram (@the_ccrc) and Linkedin.