Latest news with #StockwellSix
Sky News
4 days ago
- Sky News
Ronald De'Souza: Final member of Stockwell Six cleared nearly 50 years after being framed by corrupt officer
The final member of the Stockwell Six - who were falsely accused of robbing a police officer on the London Underground in 1972 - has been cleared more than 50 years after his wrongful conviction. Ronald De'Souza was one of six young black men who were accused of trying to rob British Transport Police officer Sergeant Derek Ridgewell during a night out on 18 February 1972. Mr De'Souza has been cleared on the same day another man, Errol Campbell, who was investigated by Ridgewell in 1977 also had his conviction quashed after he was wrongly accused of stealing from the depot where he worked. Ridgewell was a corrupt police officer who was jailed after he was involved in a number of high-profile and controversial cases in the early 1970s. What happened to the Stockwell Six? De'Souza and five other men - Texo Johnson, Courtney Harriot, Paul Green, Cleveland Davidson and Everett Mullins - were arrested on the Tube network while travelling from Stockwell station in south London. They all pleaded not guilty and told jurors police officers had lied and subjected them to violence and threats. However, five of them, including De'Souza were found guilty and jailed. Johnson, Harriot, Green and Davidson were all acquitted in 2021. The sixth member, Mullins, was acquitted at the time because it was proved his reading ability was not good enough for him to have fully understood his signed statement which was written for him by Ridgewell. Campbell's conviction quashed In a separate case, Campbell, who died in 2004, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he was convicted of conspiracy to steal and theft from the Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot in south London where he was working for British Rail in April 1977. Giving his judgement at the Court of Appeal after Mr Campbell was cleared on Thursday, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Butcher and Mr Justice Wall, said it was with "regret" that the court could not undo Mr Campbell's suffering. He added: "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." Campbell 'became an alcoholic' In a statement read out by his solicitor, Mr Campbell's son Errol Campbell Jr said: "The British Transport Police knew that Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell was corrupt, and they let him carry on regardless with what he was doing. "My dad always said he was innocent, and today, that's finally been confirmed, almost 50 years later. "He came to England in the Windrush generation and worked for years for British Rail. The conviction caused absolute misery to my dad and our family. "Due to the shame and disgrace of this conviction, he found it difficult to get employment, so much so that he fled the country. "On his return, he became an alcoholic and couldn't hold down a lollipop man's job. "I'm angry that Ridgewell is not alive for this day and that he never went to prison for all the people he fitted up. He never answered for his crimes. "I am Errol Campbell's first son. I look like him. Before this, he was a great family man and looked after us as children, and he was dapper. He was a good man." Matt Foot, Mr Campbell Jr's solicitor, said separately: "Fifty years ago, it was no secret that Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell was racist and corrupt. "There was a calypso song about him in south London. There was a BBC documentary made about him, nationwide. Millions of people saw that documentary, about him fitting up 16 young black men. "What did the British Transport Police do? They took Derek Ridgewell into the headquarters. They harboured him, and then they put him back out to commit the misery that you have heard today, the misery that was inflicted on the British Rail workers at the Bricklayers Arms depot." When asked about what steps he wished to see the BTP take, Mr Foot said: "Well, first of all, they need to state who was responsible for harbouring Derek Ridgewell in 1973, 74, 75, and then putting him out on duty. "What is happening about those officers? Have they been held to account? This, also to say, is not going to be the last case relating to Derek Ridgewell... what are the BTP doing about finding those people and resolving those cases?" Mr Foot is now calling for a change in the law that so when a police officer is jailed, there is an automatic review of their cases to look for miscarriages of justice. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has said today's decisions mean 13 people from cases involving Ridgewell have now had their convictions overturned. Mr Campbell had unsuccessfully appealed his conviction in 1978. His son submitted an application to the CCRC in September 2024, with the help of the charity APPEAL. Following a review, the CCRC found there was a real possibility Mr Campbell's conviction would be quashed, and it referred the conviction in February 2025. In August 2023, the CCRC referred the convictions of Mr Campbell's co-defendants, Saliah Mehmet and Basil Peterkin, to the Court of Appeal after it tracked down their family members. The convictions were both quashed in January 2024. Ridgewell led the case against Mr Campbell and several others, but along with colleagues DC Douglas Ellis and DC Alan Keeling, later pleaded guilty to stealing from the same Bricklayers' Arms Depot. Ridgewell died in prison of a heart attack aged 37 in 1982 before he had completed his sentence. In a previous judgment, the court found their criminal activities between January 1977 and April 1978 resulted in the loss from the depot of goods to the value of about £364,000, "an enormous sum of money at that time".
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Victims of Britain's most corrupt cop call for law change as judges quash 13th wrongful conviction
Victims of Britain's most corrupt police officer who framed scores of innocent black men have called for a change in the law after judges quashed the 13th wrongful conviction. Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell's racism and rampant criminality at British Transport Police (BTP) became so notorious in 1973 that the then Home Secretary Robert Carr faced calls for a public inquiry. But it was another 50 years before the true scale of his criminalisation of innocent young black men emerged. Errol Campbell, who died in 2004, and Ronald De Souza, 71, who were framed by the bent officer in the 1970s, were finally cleared today at the Court of Appeal. The historic decision means a total of 13 wrongful convictions based on Ridgewell's lies have now been quashed by appeal judges following one of the biggest miscarriages of justice ever perpetrated by a British police officer. Now the families of those posthumously cleared are calling for a new law that would allow for the automatic independent review of cases involving police officers who are jailed. Mr De Souza is the last member of the so-called '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 for attempted robbery, but within a year Ridgewell's corrupt methods had become so notorious that MPs called for the Home Secretary to open an inquiry. British Transport Police quietly moved Ridgewell from investigating muggings to its mailbag theft unit where he stole £364,000 worth of property, equivalent to almost £1.3million today. In 1977 former British rail employee, Mr Campbell was wrongly jailed for 18 months for theft and conspiracy to steal from the Bricklayers' Arms goods depot, based on evidence planted by Ridgewell to cover his own criminality. Ridgewell's theft was later discovered and he was sentenced to seven years in 1980, dying of a heart attack in prison two years later at the age of 37. Despite his disgrace, it has taken victims and their families decades to prove their innocence through research at the National Archives and freedom of information requests, in which time some of those wrongly convicted have died. Today Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Butcher and Mr Justice Wall, said it was 'very regrettable' that Ridgewell's cases had not been reviewed earlier. Errol Campbell Jr told the court his father 'was a ruined man' after his wrongful conviction. His solicitor Matt Foot said BTP knew that Ridgewell was corrupt but 'let him carry on regardless', adding: 'We are calling for a change in the law that, when a police officer goes to prison, there is an automatic review of their cases to look for miscarriages of justice. 'If that had happened, that would have saved more than 45 years of misery for the Campbell family.' BTP Assistant Chief Constable Doyle said: 'We are sincerely sorry to those affected by the criminal actions of former BTP Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell, whose appalling actions in the 1970s and 1980s led to the criminalisation of innocent people. 'We're continuing to review records relating to his corrupt practices, which includes those relating to officers who were associated with DS Ridgewell or may have assisted him in his criminal activity, and the review team has recently been provided with additional resources to support its work. 'I am disgusted by the actions of Derek Ridgewell, and while we know we can't change the past, his actions do not represent the BTP of today. 'We continue to actively pursue a criminal investigation into the actions of those involved.'
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Stockwell Six final member has name cleared over infamous robbery
Ronald De Souza finally has his conviction quashed after being fitted up more than 50 Years ago aged just 17 by the now notorious corrupt and racist police officer Derek Ridgewell A man wrongfully convicted of the attempted robbery of a corrupt and racist detective more than 50 years ago has finally been cleared. Ronald De Souza was 17 when he was arrested with five friends by the now notorious police officer Derek Ridgewell in 1972. Mr De Souza had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal on Thursday after his case was referred to them by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. He was detained for six months following a case investigated by British Transport Police. Mr De Souza, who along with his co-defendants, became known as Stockwell Six, were accused of trying to rob Ridgewell while on a tube train travelling from Brixon, South London. They were jailed despite telling jurors that officers had lied and subjected them to violence and threats. In his ruling on Thursday, Lord Justice Holroyde said that Mr De Souza, who did not attend court, "bore the burden of his wrongful conviction throughout his adult life". "We regret this court cannot put right all that he has suffered over more than half a century; however we can and do allow his appeal and quash his convictions," he said. The Mirror revealed last week that police are investigating former colleagues of Ridgewell who may have helped him to frame innocent members of the public. It comes after the convictions of Mr De Souza's co-defendants Paul Green, Courtney Harriot, Cleveland Davidson and Texo Johnson were quashed in 2021. The sixth member of the so-called Stockwell Six, Everet Mullins, was acquitted because it was shown that his reading ability was not good enough for him to have understood his signed statement, which was written for him by Ridgewell. Another of Ridgewell's victims, former British Rail worker Errol Campbell, had his conviction overturned posthumously at the same court. Mr Campbell, who died in 2004, had his convictions for theft and conspiracy to steal from a goods depot in South London quashed at the High Court on Thursday. In a statement read out by his solicitor, Matt Foot, Mr Campbell's son, Errol Campbell Jr, said: "The British Transport Police knew that Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell was corrupt, and they let him carry on regardless with what he was doing. My dad always said he was innocent, and today, that's finally been confirmed, almost 50 years later. "He came to England in the Windrush generation and worked for years for British Rail. The conviction caused absolute misery to my dad and our family. Due to the shame and disgrace of this conviction, he found it difficult to get employment, so much so that he fled the country. On his return, he became an alcoholic and couldn't hold down a lollipop man's job. "I'm angry that Ridgewell is not alive for this day and that he never went to prison for all the people he fitted up. He never answered for his crimes. I am Errol Campbell's first son. I look like him. Before this, he was a great family man and looked after us as children, and he was dapper. He was a good man." Campbell's father was found guilty in April 1977 and sentenced to a total of 18 months' imprisonment at the Old Bailey in relation to thefts from the Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot, where he was a British Rail employee. The case against him was led by British Transport Police officer Ridgewell. Giving his judgment on Thursday, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Butcher and Mr Justice Wall, said that it was with "regret" that the court could not undo Mr Campbell's suffering. He added: "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." DS Ridgewell led the case against Mr Campbell and several others, but along with colleagues DC Douglas Ellis and DC Alan Keeling, later pleaded guilty to stealing from the same goods depot. Mr Campbell unsuccessfully appealed his conviction in 1978. His son submitted an application Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in September 2024, with the help of the charity APPEAL. Following a review, the CCRC found there was a real possibility that, like the convictions of 11 other people that have been referred to the court, Mr Campbell's conviction would be quashed, and it referred the conviction in February 2025. In August 2023 the CCRC referred the convictions of Mr Campbell's co-defendants, Saliah Mehmet and Basil Peterkin, after it tracked down their family members. The convictions were both quashed in January 2024. In 1980, Ridgewell, Ellis and Keeling pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal from the Bricklayers' Arms Depot. Ridgewell died in prison aged 37 before he had completed his sentence. In a previous judgment, the court found that their criminal activities between January 1977 and April 1978 resulted in the loss from the depot of goods to the value of about £364,000 "an enormous sum of money at that time".
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
Final member of the Stockwell Six cleared after false accusation from corrupt police officer
A man wrongfully convicted of attempted robbery has had his name cleared at the Court of Appeal, more than 50 years after being the victim of a racist miscarriage of justice. Ronald De Souza is the final member of the Stockwell Six to have his conviction quashed, after being accused of trying to rob corrupt British Transport Police officer Det Sgt Derek Ridgewell. Mr De Souza was jailed for six months for allegedly trying to rob Ridgewell on a night out in south London in 1971, despite telling jurors that officers had subjected him and his co-defendants to violence and threats. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) reviewed his conviction after previously overturning those of his co-defendants Courtney Harriot, Cleveland Davidson, Texo Johnson and Paul Green in 2021. The sixth member of the Stockwell Six had been acquitted after it emerged that his reading ability was not good enough for him to have read and understood his own written statement, which had been written in his place by Ridgewell. Another of Ridgewell's victims, Errol Campbell, had his conviction overturned posthumously on Thursday at the Court of Appeal. Mr Campbell, who died in 2004, was found guilty of theft and conspiracy to steal in April 1977 and sentenced to a total of 18 months' imprisonment at the Old Bailey in relation to thefts from the Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot, where he was a British Rail employee. Giving his judgment on Thursday, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Butcher and Mr Justice Wall, said that it was with 'regret' that the court could not undo Mr Campbell's suffering. Ridgewell led the case against Mr Campbell and several others, but along with colleagues DC Douglas Ellis and DC Alan Keeling, later pleaded guilty to stealing from the same goods depot.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- The Guardian
Two more men framed by corrupt police officer Derek Ridgewell have convictions quashed
Two men who were framed by a corrupt and racist detective in the 1970s have had their convictions quashed by the court of appeal. Errol Campbell, who died in 2004, and Ronald De Souza are 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 imprisoned 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. Overturning De Souza's conviction, Holroyde said: 'It is plainly appropriate that this injustice, that has continued for decades, should be ended as soon as possible.' Campbell and De Souza's appeals follow a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) and were uncontested on Thursday. Ridgewell, who died in prison in 1982, also framed the Oval Four. He was jailed for seven years in 1980 for stealing mailbags worth £364,000 from the Bricklayers Arms goods depot in Southwark, south London. Ridgewell and two other officers carried out the thefts while giving evidence against Campbell in his 1977 trial for the same offence. Campbell, who was a British Rail employee, was convicted of conspiracy to steal and theft from the depot, based on Ridgewell's framed evidence. The court of appeal heard that Ridgewell had planted in Campbell's home an allegedly stolen travel clock and a packaging label used to redirect parcels. In a statement read to the court, Errol Campbell Jr said his father 'was a ruined man' after his conviction. 'He took to heavy drinking, and had a drinking problem for the rest of his life.' All but one of the Stockwell Six were convicted and jailed, despite jurors hearing accusations that police officers had lied, used violence and made threats. In 2021, after evidence of Ridgewell's racism and corruption emerged, De Souza's four co-accused – Paul Green, Courtney Harriot, Cleveland Davidson and Texo Johnson – had their convictions overturned by the court of appeal. Last year De Souza also made an application to the CCRC to refer his case for review. Holroyde said it was 'very regrettable' that these cases had not been reviewed earlier. He said fresh evidence showed De Souza's conviction was unreliable and his conviction unsafe. He also questioned why the BTP did not investigate or dismiss Ridgewell after 1973 when the anti-mugging squad he led was disbanded. At the time there were concerns he was planting evidence and fabricating confession, Holroyde noted. Sign up to The Long Wave Nesrine Malik and Jason Okundaye deliver your weekly dose of Black life and culture from around the world after newsletter promotion He said instead of being investigated, Ridgewell was moved to the Bricklayers Arms depot where he led a conspiracy to steal and accused Campbell and others of being responsible. Henry Blaxland KC, representing Campbell's family, told the court: 'Ridgewell simply continued where he had left off in the anti-mugging squad and Erroll Campbell became another of his victims.' He said: 'In this, and similar cases, the court is dealing with victims of miscarriage of justice brought about by state crime. The malign dishonesty of those who have the responsibility of upholding the law and who, in abusing their power, throw a dark shadow over the administration of justice can lead to loss of confidence, not only in the police but in the legal system as a whole. 'The corrosive impact of police, racism and corruption is incalculable, not only on the immediate victim, but also on his wider family.' Appearing for the crown Fiona Robertson said it was accepted that what is now known about Ridgewell made his evidence inadmissible. Campbell Jr's statement, read to the court by Blaxland, said his father had come to England from Barbados as part of the Windrush generation. 'He enjoyed his job. He worked there over decades until he was arrested.' Campbell Jr said as a 14-year-old he had witnessed his father returning from the police station with bruises on his face, stomach and back. 'He always said he was completely innocent of these offences. I remember his saying this before his trial and throughout the rest of his life. He called it '[n-word] hunting' by the police.' A statement read on his behalf outside the Royal Courts of Justice by Campbell Jr's solicitor, Matt Foot, said: 'The British Transport Police knew that DS Derek Ridgewell was corrupt, and they let him carry on regardless with what he was doing. The conviction caused absolute misery to my dad and our family.'
