IMB Chair suspended over ‘conduct’

 The head of an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) which criticised the way a prison was run has been suspended from her post because she upset the Governor.

Emma Wilson, IMB Chair at Downview women’s prison, was told by the Ministry of Justice in December that she was being suspended due to her “conduct towards members of staff at the prison”. She was told that the allegations would be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, and that if upheld they could “give rise to grounds for term-

inating your appointment”.

The decision to suspend Ms Wilson came after Amy Dixon, the Governor of Downview, complained to national IMB officials that Ms Wilson had shown “hostility” and “disrespect” towards herself and two other senior managers, and that her behaviour amounted to “bullying”. Ms Dixon said her encounters with Ms Wilson had caused her “worry” and “distress”.

It is the second time Ms Wilson has been removed from her watchdog post. In September 2025, the day after the Downview IMB published its annual report containing strong criticisms of the prison and the MoJ, Prisons Minister Lord Timpson told her that he had decided to terminate her appointment to the IMB. The reason given was an alleged conflict of interest with her role as a trustee of the Prison Reform Trust. The decision prompted six other members of the Downview IMB to quit in protest.

Ms Wilson was reinstated as IMB Chair on 21 November 2025, with Lord Timpson eventually admitting there had been “administrative flaws” in the process which IMB national officials followed. 

However, her return angered Downview’s management, and nine days later the Governor submitted her complaint – backed up by statements from the two other managers. One of the statements said: “I now feel sick at the prospect of Emma Wilson returning to Down-view.” Within weeks, Ms Wilson had been suspended.

Ms Wilson said: “It’s an alarming precedent that prison governors who find it stressful to be monitored can so easily put in a complaint against a monitor, which then leads to their suspension. I was surprised to see so little evidence against me in the complaint. It fundamentally undermines the independence of our role if we can be suspended so easily. 

“Lord Timpson has formally acknowledged that the IMB Secretariat’s management of the process was flawed for my alleged conflict of interest, so I really don’t have any confidence in the IMB Secretariat being able to manage a complaints process properly.” 

Asked whether Ms Wilson’s suspension could deter other IMBs from criticising prison management, a national IMB spokesperson said: “We would not comment publicly on any matter relating to an individual member.” The MoJ also declined to comment.

Ministry of Justice admits to asking AI for policy ideas

 The Government department in charge of prisons has admitted to using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to “brainstorm ideas” for new policies.

Asked in the House of Commons whether the Ministry of Justice uses AI for policy-making, Justice Minister Jake Richards said: “The MoJ has rolled out general purpose AI tools like Microsoft Copilot across the department to enhance productivity and support the work of all staff, including policy professionals. 

“AI is being used to assist the policy-making process with tasks like brainstorming ideas, clarifying drafting, and searching for publicly-available information. The Department encourages officials to always cross-validate the outputs of AI rather than blindly trusting them, applying human judgement and oversight as appropriate.”

His statement on 20 April came in response to a question from Conservative MP John Hayes, who had asked Justice Secretary David Lammy whether the MoJ “has used artificial intelligence to assist with drafting legislation and policy in the past 12 months”.

Mr Richards is thought to be the first UK Government minister to admit to using AI in policy-making. Business Secretary Peter Kyle has said he uses it for background research.

Even Science Secretary Liz Kendall, the Cabinet minister in charge of policy on AI, has said she does not use it for Government business – only in her personal life. In a BBC interview last month, she said the last time she had used it was to find out which face cream ingredient she was allergic to.

Idaho’s new firing squad prepares to fire

 After years of controversy surrounding lethal injections, the western US state looks to automate the process of shooting people sentenced to death

Come July, a new Idaho law will require the state to prioritise use of the firing squad when performing executions. It will become the first state in the country to make shooting prisoners condemned to death its method of choice, followed by lethal injection.

Idaho’s turn to the firing squad follows years of controversy surrounding its procurement of lethal injection chemicals and its failed 2024 execution of Thomas Creech. Creech’s execution was called off when a medical team repeatedly failed to establish the intravenous line needed to deliver the injection.

In an interview with a Prison Journalism Project (PJP) editor, Ryan Mortensen, a spokesperson for the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) said the department is evaluating options to “procure a remotely operated system” — an effort intended to reduce staff involvement in the gruesome process. 

“It is a traumatic thing to experience,” Mortensen said. “The number one priority is safety and security for all involved.”

IDOC is currently reviewing how other states have implemented firing squad executions. If a remote option is not obtained, Mortensen said, “a manual process will remain necessary as a back-up”.

A corrections officer, who asked to remain anonymous, said he heard the eventual weapon would likely be placed on a stand and “operated by a computer to release a firing pattern”.

“It’s kind of like Call of Duty,” the officer added.

Today, only four other states are legally authorised to use the firing squad for executions. The method is rarely used. Last year, South Carolina became the first state in 15 years to execute a prisoner by firing squad when three volunteer prison employees shot rifles at a red bull’s eye over the heart of Brad Keith Sigmon. Sigmon chose the method over lethal injection.

Idaho’s death chamber is located at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, in a cellblock adjacent to the track and ball field at Idaho State Correctional Institution, where I’m incarcerated. The sound of gunfire from a nearby firing range regularly echoes throughout the compound.

The range is being used for routine training by local law enforcement, including the IDOC, said Mortensen. 

The occasional small eruptions are eerie. 

“It’s as close to full-auto as you can get,” Mark Hopson said of the sound. (Mortensen said that IDOC personnel do not train with automatic weapons.)

In addition to South Carolina, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah have also kept the firing squad on the books. But Idaho is the only state set to prioritise it over other execution methods. South Carolina killed a total of three prisoners by firing squad last year. Prior to that, Utah was the only state in nearly 50 years to deploy its firing squad, for a total of three times. 

The view from around the compound

Following Creech’s failed execution, I remember watching a press conference, with corrections officials and media witnesses, live from my unit. 

“Why have a punishment that’s more or less for theatrics?” prisoner Jason Stark said during a recent interview in the dayroom. “This is a question of ethics and humanity. Not on the part of the person dying but on the people supporting the system. If taking a life is so horrible, then why are they doing it?” 

When asked about use of the firing squad, Stark ranked its perceived humaneness among other methods. 

“Lethal injection is better than firing squad,” he said. “Both of those are better than hanging, and better than the electric chair. But really, the most peaceful way to die is by nitrogen asphyxiation.” 

Experts tend to disagree. Even some veterinarians oppose the use of nitrogen asphyxiation to euthanize animals because of its uncertain effects, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union.

In line for breakfast, Frank Nicolai, who is 22 years into a sentence of life without parole, told me he’s not a proponent of the death penalty. “But I do believe that people serving fixed-life sentences should be given the option of euthanasia,” he said. 

Last year, the Idaho Statesman reported that the state spent $200,000 (£150,000) on execution drugs that expired after going unused.

“I personally think they should just take them out to the courtyard and use a cattle knocker,” Robert Sanders said between mouthfuls of biscuits and gravy. A cattle knocker is a pneumatic device that is applied to the cranium of cattle during slaughter. “Do away with all of the commotion and save the taxpayers money.” 

RJ McKinney spent 28 years on death row. He is the closest thing to an expert on the subject that I could find. I caught him walking back from a volunteer shift.

“Killing me isn’t a punishment,” he said. “That’s just getting rid of me. If you really want to punish me, keep me around for the rest of my life and let me think on what I’ve done.”

no news

 Still no update on my parol. 
i had a video link with New Connections (not the dating site), this is a charity that helps people with long term sentances such as myself, and it all went well. i will keep yopu updated after my next video link which is on the 11th

Things Are Moving: A Step Closer to Parole and New Beginnings

 I finally have some news to share—after what feels like forever, I’ve had a probation visit at long last. It’s come around because my parole date is getting closer, and there’s now a deadline that needs to be met. There’s just a month for everything to be completed, with the report prepared, signed, sealed, and delivered for my dossier. It’s a big moment, and things are starting to move.

I’ll be sure to keep you all updated as we get closer to my parole date so you know exactly what’s happening and how things are progressing.

In the meantime, I’ve been putting energy into something creative—music. If that’s your thing, check out my TikTok page: MusicbehindbarsDJfrankieD and give it a follow. I’ve been working on different tracks, and I’m also creating personalised music for special occasions.

So if you’ve got something coming up—a birthday, anniversary, or any meaningful event—send me the names and details, and I’ll put together a custom track just for you.

More updates soon—stay tuned.

A former prison officer has been jailed after admitting a sexual relationship with an inmate

 A former prison officer has been jailed after admitting a sexual relationship with an inmate.

Alicia Novas, 20, worked at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough where she became involved with Declan Winkless and brought cannabis into prison.

Novas, from Raunds, admitted six offences including misconduct in public office, and was given a three-year jail sentence at Northampton Crown Court.

Winkless, 31, who admitted encouraging Novas to commit the offences, was jailed for three years and four months.

Judge Rebecca Crane said: "You failed to consider the seriousness of your actions and the potential impact on the security and safety of the staff and prisoners and how it undermined the work of the prison."

Novas and Winkless appeared at court via separate video links from HMP Peterborough.

The court heard that Novas began working at the prison in July 2024, aged 18, while Winkless had arrived the previous month.

By 6 November 2024, the pair were in direct electronic communication after Novas provided Winkless with her personal phone number.

The relationship became sexual later that month.

They also used additional numbers to stay in contact, exchanging messages, calls and video calls.

Prosecutor Matthew Rowcliffe said there were 2,873 contacts between the pair during the indictment period, which ran from August 2024 to March 2025.

Novas admitted bringing cannabis and two mobile phones into prison, unauthorised communication within the prison - which included passing on the name of a prisoner informant.

Rowcliffe described this as a "serious breach" of her responsibilities.

On 23 December 2024, Novas was arrested after a phone was seized from Winkless's cell.

She was released on bail and resigned three days later, but she immediately resumed contact with him, making about 400 further phone calls.

Crane added: "Given your age and inexperience, you were vulnerable to being manipulated.

"However, you could easily have reported matters to the prison authorities and sought assistance.

"You persisted in having contact over a significant period even after your arrest."

Novas was told she would serve half her sentence in jail before being released on licence.

Addressing Winkless, who has 16 previous convictions and is serving a separate sentence until April 2029, the judge said: "You were older and had more life experience and used that to manipulate Novas."

He admitted two counts of encouraging misconduct in public office, unauthorised communication within the prison, using cannabis in prison and unauthorised possession of communication devices within a prison.

Winkless was told his sentence would be added to his existing prison term - to run consecutively.

A prison officer who formed a relationship with a sex offender has been jailed for six months.

 

Livvy Edney, 44, became involved with inmate Paul Young while working at HMP Channings Wood in Devon.

Exeter Crown Court heard Edney began working at the prison in 2020 and started the relationship with Young in November 2022 after becoming his supervisor.

The prison authorities became suspicious and Young, serving a sentence of imprisonment for public protection after being convicted of assault by penetration, was transferred to another institution in January 2023.

Edney used two pay as you go mobile phones, registered a false name and gave an address of a relative of Young to the prison authorities to keep in touch with him after he was moved.

The court heard their telephones calls were recorded by the prison authorities, in which they declared their love for each other.

Young also read out poetry he had written for Edney, and they discussed plans for taking a trip to Venice after he was released.

Edney was arrested at her home in March 2023 and in police interviews denied any relationship with Young or knowledge of the two mobile phones found at her address.

Young’s cell was also searched and letters, notes and a Valentine’s card from Edney were recovered.

The card depicted two penguins and contained a “sexually intimate” message.

Edney, from Grenville Avenue, in Torquay, previously pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.

Lee Brembridge, defending, urged the court to impose a suspended prison sentence as the mother of three had since remarried, had a full-time job and was unlikely to reoffend.

“She is not the youngest prison officer, but there is a degree of inexperience in terms of the work that she had performed up to the period of her ill health,” he said.

“It really should be set against the background that she is someone who has her own vulnerabilities.

“Her vulnerabilities are very personal to her, which started in her childhood, and indeed continued in a 20-year relationship with her ex-husband.

“Mrs Edney has spent a lifetime living with anxiety, with depression, and everything which comes with a traumatic childhood, which then follows its way into an abusive marriage over the course of 20 years.

“Her life, indeed both her family life and her personal life, are now more stable than they have ever been.”

Jailing Edney for six months, Judge James Patrick said she was fully aware of the “importance of maintaining boundaries in relation to prisoners”.

“Paul Young is somebody who had had a relationship with another officer in the past and that was something which intrigued you,” he said.

“From that period, you and he developed a relationship which became closer and closer

“The prison authorities were concerned about you and your closeness with him and as a result of which he was transferred to another prison.

“That should have served as a warning to you, but it did not. It’s clear that you then started to set about making contact with him.

“You did so using subterfuge, you did so by pretending to be somebody else, you did so using disguised telephone numbers.

“You declared in those calls your love for one another, you read out poems, you discussed dating, you discussed meeting, there were multiple references to sexual behaviour.

“It can be said on your behalf that you brought the contact to an end.

“That said of course you brought the contact to an end, knowing firstly, that he had been transferred, and secondly being very suspicious as to what the authorities knew about you.”

The judge added: “I accept that there’s no evidence that there was any physical relationship.

“But plainly, your relationship was highly sexual, even if it was not physical.

“In my judgment, and with great regret, I conclude that I must send you immediately to custody.”

Detective Sergeant Will Martel, of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “Edney went to significant lengths to conceal the relationship, knowing that it was a serious breach of her position.

“Corruption will not be tolerated within our prisons.

“Working closely with the Prison Service, staff across the prison estate and wider policing partners, we will continue to root out misconduct of this nature.”

EXCLUSIVE: Prison watchdog merger spells the end for Independent Monitoring Boards.

 Three watchdog bodies which scrutinise conditions in prisons and court custody cells are to be merged into one, as part of a Government cost-cutting drive.

The move will see HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) and the Lay Observers brought together into a single organisation responsible for holding prison governors and ministers to account.

No public announcement has been made, but people in the organisations affected were told this week. Chairs of IMBs received a letter from Prisons Minister Lord Timpson informing them of the decision and saying that it followed a review within the Ministry of Justice.

The driving force behind the merger is understood to be the Cabinet Office, which is examining ‘arms-length bodies’ across Whitehall to see whether savings can be made by closing or combining them.

No details have yet been decided of what shape the new merged watchdog will take, or the extent to which it will continue to deploy IMB-style volunteers alongside the professional inspectors who visit prisons on behalf of HMIP. Whatever the ultimate structure, IMBs – whose origins trace back to the Victorian era – will no longer be ‘independent’ of the wider inspectorate.

Any change will require legislation, which the Government has not yet timetabled. A Ministry of Justice source told Inside Time that the merger will happen “when legislative time allows”, and insisted that it would not reduce the level of scrutiny. The source added: “The Department will now be working through the detail of what a future model will look like and how it will work, in consultation with the bodies themselves.”

It is not clear whether the head of the merged body will retain the title of Chief Inspector of Prisons. The present Chief Inspector, Charlie Taylor, has been in post since 2020 and is likely to conclude his term in office before the reforms take effect. In recent decades, holders of the office including General Sir David Ramsbotham and Judge Stephen Tumim have established strong reputations for independence.

By contrast, IMBs have faced recent difficulties. Every prison in England and Wales has an IMB, made up of volunteer members of the public who have full access to enter the buildings and speak with prisoners and staff. They monitor conditions and publish their findings in annual reports. The system dates back to the 1898 Prison Act, which established Boards of Visitors. They were renamed IMBs in 2003.

Recently, IMBs have struggled to recruit enough volunteers, with 700 current vacancies across the country. At HMP Manchester, a lack of board members meant that no annual report was published for the past three years.

When Elisabeth Davies became National Chair of the IMBs in 2023 she sought to reduce the workload on members by limiting the number of times they visited prisons and stopping them from pursuing individual prisoners’ complaints. However, her plans met with fierce opposition from some IMB chairs. She resigned last December, citing personal reasons – leaving the organisation divided.

The Lay Observers work in a similar way to IMBs, but inspecting court custody cells.

Inside Time understands that one option considered by the MoJ review was to merge HMIP with the office of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, but this was resisted by HMIP and was eventually rejected.

Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said when he launched the Cabinet Office review of arms-length bodies in April 2025 that it aimed to “drive out waste and inefficiency across Whitehall, reducing duplication and bureaucracy – saving the taxpayer money and cutting the cost of ‘doing government’”.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told Inside Time: “Scrutiny bodies play a vital role in raising standards across our prisons and ensuring robust accountability. These changes will strengthen the consistency and effectiveness of this oversight, as the Government presses ahead with delivering punishment that cuts crime and keeps the public safe.”

Coroner raises concerns after HMP Swaleside prisoner died after cell bell was turned off by other inmates

 Prisoners were able to silence a distressed inmate’s emergency call bell before he became the ninth inmate to take his own life in three years at the jail.

Thomas Ruggiero, 39, was found in his cell at HMP Swaleside, on the Isle of Sheppey, on November 16, 2024.
He had been serving an eight-year sentence for assault and struggled with his mental health.

A jury inquest, held between March 9 and 20 at Oakwood House in Maidstone and led by coroner Ian Potter, concluded he died by ligaturing himself in circumstances where his intention could not be ascertained.

In his report, which has since been submitted to the prison, Mr Potter warned there was a “significant” risk that further deaths could occur unless action is taken.

He raised concerns about the jail’s emergency cell bell system, suicide and self-harm procedures, staff communication and experience, and confusion over emergency response codes.

Benjamin Lillicrap banned from teaching after taking indecent images while working at The Abbey School, FavershamBenjamin Lillicrap banned from teaching after taking indecent images while working at The Abbey School, Faversham

Watch More

CCTV footage showed other prisoners silencing Ruggiero’s cell bell from outside his door in the hour before he was found unresponsive.

The jury found this hampered staff’s ability to respond to his needs and distress.

Mr Potter said anyone could cancel an emergency call bell at the push of a button outside a cell, with staff then assuming the call had been answered.

He warned the system remains “highly vulnerable to both misuse and abuse”.

“The evidence was that as and when a cell bell is silenced, staff assume that the call for assistance has been answered,” said the coroner.

“There was clear evidence that this situation has not changed in any way since November 2024.”

The inquest also highlighted concerns around the lack of experience among staff. At the time of Ruggiero’s death, at least 90% of the prison officers at HMP Swaleside were new in post and still in their probationary period.

The supervising officer admitted he “possibly did not have the right mix of staff in terms of skills and experience to keep the wing safe”.

In his report to the prison, Mr Potter said: “Without sufficient numbers of experienced prison officers across the prison estate, the staffing issues seen in this particular inquest are likely not isolated. I highlight to you my concern that high levels of inexperienced staff will undoubtedly contribute to future deaths of those in custody.”

He added: “The communication between prison staff was insufficient and lacked clarity.

“Opportunities to increase formal observations or notify health care were missed. Staff communications failed to relay the severity and complete scope of the situation.

“There was clear confusion among prison staff regarding the calling of a ‘code blue’ in an emergency situation.

“That confusion included if/when to call a code blue and how to do so.”

The governor of HMP Swaleside has until May 18 to respond to Mr Potter’s findings, while the Ministry of Justice and healthcare providers have until May 19 to outline what action will be taken, or explain why none is proposed.

It comes as the jail was named the worst in the country in a damning report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, which found high levels of drugs and violence and called on the government to take urgent action to fix it.

Inmate's sentence extended after scalding officer

 An inmate who seriously assaulted a prison officer leaving him with second-degree facial burns has been handed an 11-year extended sentence.

On 27 December 2024, Benjamin Scott, 46, a prisoner at HMP Onley in Northamptonshire, threw boiling water into the face of a prison officer before hitting him over the head with a kettle.

The victim was taken to hospital where he received treatment for his injuries including an ocular burn to his left eye, in a bid to save his sight.

Scott who is serving a 15-year jail sentence, was handed an extended sentence made up of six years in jail and an additional five years on licence on 20 March.

Northamptonshire Police said Scott was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and during a formal police interview gave a full disclosure expressing his remorse for his actions.

He said it was not a "targeted attack" and had wanted to move from the prison after feeling like he was not getting support for his declining mental health.

Following the incident, the force said he was later transferred to another prison.

At a hearing at Northampton Crown Court on 19 November last year, Scott, formerly of Sheffield, pleaded guilty to one count of grievous bodily harm with intent.

In March, he was handed an extended sentence made up of six years imprisonment with an extension of five years on licence.

Det Con Jamie Yates of CID West, whose team led the investigation, said: "This was a particularly violent, unprovoked attack by Benjamin Scott who wanted to orchestrate a move from the prison.

"Such violence has no place in our society and that includes within the prison establishment, where prison officers should be able to feel safe to perform their duties without fear for their personal safety.

"The prison officer in this case acted bravely and professionally throughout considering the seriousness of his assault and I must praise him for this."

Prison guard and gang jailed over contraband plot

 A gang has been jailed after teaming up with a corrupt prison officer to smuggle drugs, mobile phones and USB sticks into a south‑east London prison.

Jason Thompson, a guard at HMP Isis, was suspended by the Prison Service in February 2024, as the Metropolitan Police investigated.

Thompson, 34, was jailed for four years and six months at Snaresbrook Crown Court after admitting he acted as the link between the gang and inmates - five of whom have been jailed today.

Deputy governor at HMP Isis, Stephen Forde, said the vast majority of prison staff were "honest, professional and hardworking, and those who choose corruption put staff and prisoners at risk and damage public trust."

Eight men and Thompson are believed to have been responsible for 18 package drop‑offs between February and July 2024. Thompson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison and misconduct in a public office.

The ringleader inside prison was Olusegan Shobanjo, 26, and his brother on the outside, 28-year-old Adedayo Shobanjo.

He and Andrew Opoku‑Edusei, 28, prepared an "industrial" number of USB sticks loaded with Xbox games, TV programmes and pornography for prisoners - with some produced to order. They also paid Thompson between £400 and £600 for each package smuggled in.

Inmates Prince Kunado Dwomoh and Nathan Adjei played a "significant role" in the conspiracy and were principally dealing cannabis.

Contraband was brought in via supervised visits arranged through the official prison booking system.

The gang used coded language and slang to avoid detection, as footage from inside the prison captured the exchanges, including a moment when Thompson, in a panic, discarded items in a staff toilet.

On 13 March 2024, officers intercepted a package containing cannabis resin before carrying out 11 simultaneous arrests across London.

Gang members sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 2 April:

• Olusegan Shobanjo, 26, of Bristol Avenue, NW9, was jailed for five years for conspiracy to convey List A and List B articles into prison and facilitating the acquisition of criminal property

• Rama Wato, 26, of Alpha Place, NW6, was sentenced to two years and 10 months for the same offences

• Andrew Opoku Edusei, 28, of The Concourse, NW9, jailed for four years and six months for the same charges and the possession of ammunition

• Prince Kunado Dwomoh, 27, of Kenley Avenue, NW9, was jailed for two years and eight months for conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison

• Nathan Adjei, 26, of Lutterworth Road, Northampton, received two years and six months' imprisonment for the same offence

Earlier hearings:

• Jacques Hamilton, 23, of Abborts Road, HA8, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on 22 January after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison

• Arian Kaseb, 21, of Charcot Road, NW9, was jailed on 23 January for 12 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convey List B articles into prison

Awaiting sentencing:

• Adedayo Shobanjo, 28, of Bristol Avenue, NW9, awaits sentencing after admitting conspiracy to convey List B articles into prison and facilitating the acquisition of criminal property

Man guilty of 2003 rape that saw innocent Andrew Malkinson jailed

 A sex offender has been found guilty of a rape which saw an innocent man jailed for 17 years.

Paul Quinn, 52, had denied the attack on a woman in Little Hulton, Salford, in 2003 for which Andrew Malkinson was wrongly convicted.

Jurors at Manchester Crown Court heard the father-of-six's DNA was found on the woman's vest and he had searched online to see how long police kept samples.

Quinn, of Exeter, Devon, and formerly of Little Hulton, Salford, was also found guilty of strangulation and grievous bodily harm.

Warning: This story contains distressing details.

The court heard Quinn, a sex offender from the age of 12, attacked the young mother as she walked home in the Salford suburb in the early hours of the morning on 19 July 2003.

She was brutally beaten, bitten and her cheekbone was fractured.

Quinn then strangled her unconscious and raped her.

Malkinson, who was working as a security guard at a local shopping centre, had protested his innocence but was wrongly picked out at as the attacker in an identity parade.

He was jailed in 2004.

Speaking after Quinn's conviction, Malkinson said he was "content that the right result has finally been achieved for the victim, myself and the public".

"But the truth is that if the police had acted as they should have done, Paul Quinn could have been caught a long time ago," he said.

"Instead, they wanted a quick conviction and I was a handy patsy forced to spend over 17 years in prison for his horrific crime."

Malkinson, from Grimsby, made multiple failed appeals against his conviction in 2012 and 2020.

Now aged 60, he was only released in 2020 after 17 years in jail, with his conviction finally quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2023

A statement read on behalf of the victim on the court steps said "two lives had been impacted" by the case.

It had "robbed me of the life I wanted to have" and the miscarriage of justice had "robbed Mr Malkinson of 17 years", she said.

However, she said "justice has been served" by this verdict.

Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Steph Parker said: "The fact that Andrew Malkinson was imprisoned for 17 years for a crime he didn't commit is clearly a failing of Greater Manchester Police, and the wider criminal justice system.

"And for that, we are absolutely sorry.

"We are determined that this cannot happen again and we also offer our apologies to the victim, who we've let down."

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said GMP's handling of the case was still under investigation.

Five former GMP officers and one currently serving with the force are under investigation by the IOPC.

Quinn was arrested almost two decades after Malkinson was wrongly jailed, following advances in DNA testing which meant in 2022 a billion-to-one match of his DNA profile was made with saliva left on the victim's vest top.

The court heard Quinn was a convicted sex offender at the time of the attack.

He was cautioned in 1986 for two counts of indecent assault against a female, when he was 12 years old.

In November 1992, he was convicted of two counts of underage sex, an offence which today would be classified as rape. He was aged 16 and the girl was 12 at the time of the offences.

It was this offence that led to his DNA being taken by police ten years later, which ultimately linked him to the rape in 2003.

The six-week trial heard Quinn stalked his victim, in her 30s, as she walked home, dragging her from the street down a motorway embankment.

He battered her, fracturing her cheekbone, and she was strangled unconscious and twice raped.

He also bit her left nipple, almost severing it, but left behind on her vest top his saliva from which his DNA was recovered years later.

'Alarm bells'

Ass Ch Con Parker added: "Paul Quinn is a dangerous man. He is the one responsible for this horrific attack, and he has known it all along for more than 20 years.

"The harm he has done to the victim and the cowardice of watching the wrong man go to prison for his crime is unforgivable."

When the victim gave evidence against Malkinson in 2003 she had doubts she had picked out the right man, but police dismissed this as "just trial nerves".

The DNA sample from the vest top, only recovered and identified in 2007, was analysed and ruled out Malkinson, which was a development which "ought to have set alarm bells ringing", the court heard.

Quinn had given a DNA sample in 2012, as police collected samples from known sex offenders.

In August 2022, after testing became more advanced, news broke that police had matched the vest top DNA sample to another man.

The trial heard that this development had a "profound" effect on Quinn's internet usage.

Quinn told jurors it was a "complete coincidence" he had begun scouring the news for information on the Malkinson case and repeatedly searched Google, asking: "How long is DNA kept in database", and, "Why do I keep sweating all the time…"

He also searched up "wrongful convictions" in the UK.

Quinn, who divorced in 2016, had moved from Salford following a drugs dispute, the court heard.

He was arrested in December 2022 after moving to Exeter, where he was working as a delivery driver.

Ass Ch Con Parker said mistakes had been made on the case, with some of the exhibits disposed of and "we know that there were queries around the identification procedure".

"But we really need to understand how those errors occurred, and why those errors occurred, and only at that point would we be able to understand whether there is blame for the police, for anybody else," she said.

"If there is, I can assure you, we will learn from that, because we cannot let this happen again."

James Burley, from legal charity Appeal, said the "grim reality" was that Quinn could have been caught sooner.

He said authorities had DNA recovered from the victim's clothing that did not match Malkinson for some years, but did not check databases until 2022.

Burley said Malkinson spent a further eight years wrongly imprisoned as a result and called for new periodic DNA searching rules to be introduced.

He also appealed for "disallowing prosecutions based solely on unsupported eyewitness identification evidence", or for juries to be given "strengthened warning about the pitfalls of eyewitness identification evidence".

Before discharging the jurors, Judge Mr Justice Bright told them, "among all this horror" the only "sunlight" was that the victim and her then-boyfriend had stayed together after the rape.

He said: "I know this case will live with you a long time".

Quinn will be sentenced on 5 June.