Pair framed by corrupt officer have convictions quashed

The court of appeal yesterday quashed the convictions of two men who had been framed by a corrupt and racist detective in the 1970s.

- Matthew Weaver

Errol Campbell, who died in 2004, and Ronald De Souza were the 12th and 13th people to have their convictions quashed because they were based on evidence from the disgraced British Transport Police (BTP) officer DS Derek Ridgewell.

Campbell was jailed for 18 months in 1977 based on evidence planted by Ridgewell for the same offence the corrupt detective was later jailed for.

Overturning his conviction, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Butcher and Mr Justice Wall, said: "We regret that this court cannot undo what the late Mr Campbell suffered. We can, however, and do, allow the appeal brought on his behalf and quash his conviction. We hope that will at least bring some comfort to Mr Campbell's family who survive."

De Souza, now 71 but not present in court, is the last member of the Stockwell Six, a group of young black men falsely accused of trying to rob Ridgewell on the London Underground, to have his conviction overturned. He was sentenced to six months in prison in 1972.