MAN CLEARED AFTER 5 YEARS IN PRISON DENIED COMPENSATION TWICE

Brian Buckle, from Pembrokeshire, has had his compensation claim rejected for a second time by the Ministry of Justice, despite being completely cleared of sex abuse charges for which he was imprisoned. Buckle was convicted of historical child sex abuse in 2017 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Following a five-year legal battle, the Court of Appeal found his conviction unsafe and he was released. A retrial at Swansea Crown Court in 2023 resulted in a unanimous not guilty verdict after new forensic evidence and witnesses were presented by his barrister Stephen Vullo KC.

The legal process to clear his name cost Buckle and his family £500,000. Buckle stated that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, takes medication, and feels constantly on edge. The MoJ rejected his initial compensation application in 2024, prompting his MP Ben Lake to host a debate in Westminster on the matter and former Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones to indicate she wanted to restore Buckle's faith in the criminal justice system. The MoJ agreed to review the application, but in April informed Buckle that compensation could not be awarded as his claim did not meet the statutory test criteria.

The UK government said it acknowledged the serious impact of miscarriages of justice and was committed to helping people rebuild their lives. The Law Commission, which carried out a review of the criminal appeals system in England and Wales, stated that its report on compensation would be published this year. Buckle said he felt "sick" upon learning of the second rejection.