Oyston rape appeal dismissed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The tycoon Owen Oyston yesterday failed in his bid to have convictions for rape and indecent assault overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Oyston, 64, slumped in the dock as Lord Justice Phillips, Mr Justice Jowitt and Mr Justice Moses in London also dismissed an appeal against his six-year sentence.
The businessman and former chairman of Blackpool Football Club was found guilty at Liverpool Crown court last year of raping and indecently assaulting a 16-year-old girl.
At an appeal hearing last month, Anthony Scrivener QC for Oyston, claimed the jury would have reached a different conclusion if they had seen material he then placed before the court. The new evidence was "sexually explicit" letters which showed she was not as vulnerable and naive as she had been presented to the jury.
But Lord Justice Phillips said the court had "no doubt" that the trial judge would have refused permission to introduce the evidence. The letters were "of no relevance to the question of whether she was raped and indecently assaulted by a man nearly four times her age".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments