"Oooops, We Screwed Up..."

Jack Beecham, 72, from Prenton, had requested documents regarding an upcoming civil court case from police in June 2019 - but says he was instead mailed two pages about a criminal investigation.

Mr Beecham claimed he was also sent two pages about a misconduct allegation involving a Merseyside Police sergeant.

"...and we're going to make sure you pay for it." 

Mr Beecham said he attempted to phone the police solicitor's office about the papers, and also attempted to contact the subject of the criminal investigation and the police sergeant directly. But when he said he received no response, he forwarded the information to a number of other people, including former police officers and journalists.

He said: "That night, a big yellow van with 10 police officers came to my house to pick up four pieces of paper, which I gave them. They said I must also delete it from my devices, which I did. But then I said 'what do I do about the hundred-odd other people I sent them to?'"

Oh, they knew what to do about that. Charge you. 

He said police "didn't seem bothered at the time" when they picked up the papers. But in late 2021 he was charged with obtaining and disclosing personal data, leading to a lengthy court process spanning nearly two years.

Eventually, someone realised - probably because of the recent events - how this was going to look in the press.  

The pensioner walked free from Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, August 14, after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) decided it was not in the public interest to pursue a case against him.

ICO prosecutor Anam Khan said: "In light of the knowledge that this is likely to be a lengthy trial, the prosecution takes on the view that it would be a disproportionate use of resources to continue with the case."

I humbly suggest that it wouldn't be a disproportionate use of resources to charge everyone involved in the decision to charge this man in the first place with wasting police time and misconduct in a public office...