APPALLING

Dad spends £500k to prove his innocence but despite serving five years in jail he is denied any compensation

- DAN WARBURTON

A FATHER who spent £500,000 on proving his innocence after five years in jail has told how he was denied compensation.

Brian Buckle, 51, was accused of attacking a young girl in the 1990s.

In May 2017 he was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault, three of indecency and one of attempted rape.

Wife Elaine, 58, was convinced of his innocence and set out to prove it with the help of their daughter, Georgia, 22, Brian's mother, Jackie and his aunt Daphne.

Their campaign began as he started a 33-year combined prison sentence, to be served over 15 years.

It went on to cost almost £500,000 in loans and savings.

In September 2023 the Court of Appeal heard that Brian's conviction was unsafe.

Within an hour, Brian was released, after more than five years locked up.