Shropshire man jailed for abuse in bid to clear his name

David Fanning, 53, of Sutton Road, Admaston, near Telford, was jailed for nine years in December 2014 for a string of indecent assaults. His alleged crimes were all against the same girl, who was only four when Fanning was first said to have molested her.

But he is now appealing his convictions in a case that could have huge consequences for how sex cases are tried in future.

Fanning's lawyers say the guilty verdicts are "logically inconsistent" with not guilty verdicts returned on eight other alleged assaults on the girl.

The case, which will determine how such cases should be approached in future, is being heard by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas and two senior colleagues.

"The verdicts were inconsistent," said Fanning's Barrister Debra White.

"There was no logical explanation for the inconsistency which amounts to a legitimate chain of reasoning.

"This is a case where the convictions, when one looks at the logical inconsistencies, aren't safe."

Mrs White said all of the counts hinged on the credibility and reliability of the alleged victim – and yet the jury had believed her on some and not on others.

Fanning's case is being heard alongside four other appeals in sex cases where lawyers claim guilty verdicts should not stand due to alleged inconsistency of verdicts.

Lord Thomas, who is head of the judiciary in England and Wales, said the issue needed to be considered because of the huge increase in sex cases coming before crown courts.

Judgment in Fanning's appeal will be given at a later date.