Judge slams West Mercia Police for case investigation
A mother has been cleared of assaulting another woman after a judge ruled police failings meant she could not be given a fair trial.
Judge Robin Onions heavily criticised police involved in the case against Gobowen mother Sarah Ford, telling jurors that officers had failed to follow "absolutely obvious" lines of inquiry, meaning the case could not continue as a fair trial".
The judge told alleged victim Toni Williams police mistakes meant she had been denied the standard of service she ought to have expected.
Miss Ford had denied assaulting Miss Williams in the toilets of the Kings Head pub in Oswestry and assault causing actual bodily harm in Willow Street in Oswestry both on July 20.
The jury heard Miss Williams was kicked about five times as she lay on the ground in the second attack, with injuries including a split lip and bruising to her arms. She also had a tooth knocked out.
The judge directed the jury, at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Thursday , to formally find 35-year-old Miss Ford, of West Place, Gobowen, not guilty on both counts.
Miss Ford had denied attacking Miss Williams in the pub toilet and said she had accidentally stumbled into Miss Williams in the foyer of the HSBC bank in Oswestry.
Miss Ford denied kicking and punching Miss Williams, although she said she had pushed somebody in self defence after she had been pushed and spat on.
Judge Onions told jurors the police did not investigate transactions made at the bank to prove who was there at the time.
"It is an absolutely obvious line of inquiry," he said.
Jurors had heard Miss Williams used Facebook to trace her attacker, and the judge said: "We have got no idea how correctly the identification was carried out."
He said a police video identity parade should have been held as well. "If she had not been picked out by the complainant this case would never have been started." he said. "I don't believe this case can continue as a fair trial."
After the jury was discharged the judge moved into chambers and ordered investigating officer Constable Simon Marland to come into the court to discuss the case.
A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "The judge's comments are noted and will be looked into."
