Mr R

Mr R was convicted in May 2013 of rape of a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 13, cruelty to a person under 16, and cruelty by neglect to a person under 16. Mr R received a sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in November 2018.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that the complainant’s credibility, on which the prosecution depended, was substantially undermined by new evidence that had emerged since Mr R’s trial.

In addition, the CCRC found that the judge had misdirected the jury on the cruelty count.

There was therefore a real possibility the Court of Appeal would find Mr R’s conviction unsafe.

The CCRC referred the conviction in June 2023.

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in August 2024.