January 18th 2024.
In a recent ruling, two British Rail workers, Basil Peterkin and Saliah Mehmet, have had their convictions for theft posthumously overturned. They were falsely accused and imprisoned on the word of a corrupt police officer, Derek Ridgewell. The two men, who passed away with the weight of their convictions hanging over their heads, were finally cleared of any wrongdoing by the Court of Appeal in London on Thursday.
In 1977, Peterkin and Mehmet were sentenced to nine months in prison for the theft of parcels from the Bricklayers Arms goods depot in south London, where they worked. However, they maintained their innocence, claiming that the items found in their possession had been planted and any admissions made by them were fabricated by the police. It was later revealed that Ridgewell, who accused the men, had actually stolen the property himself and was eventually sentenced to seven years in prison for his crimes.
Ridgewell, who had a history of corruption and racism, was involved in several controversial cases in the early 1970s. In recent years, investigations into his past actions have led to multiple convictions being overturned, including those of the so-called Oval Four and Stockwell Six. He passed away in prison in 1982 at the age of 37.
Following Thursday's ruling, the British Transport Police (BTP) issued an apology to the families of Peterkin and Mehmet for the trauma caused by Ridgewell's actions. They also acknowledged the systemic racism within the force that played a role in allowing Ridgewell to continue his misconduct. The court was also critical of the BTP for their failure to investigate prosecutions linked to Ridgewell, which resulted in significant delays in clearing the names of innocent individuals.
Outside of the court, Regu Saliah, Mehmet's son, spoke about the traumatic impact his father's conviction had on their family. He stated that his father's imprisonment left them penniless and homeless, while Ridgewell continued to hold a position of power and victimize others. Saliah expressed hope that this case would lead to a new law that requires an independent review of cases involving officers who have been convicted of a crime.
Janice Peterkin and Lileith Jones, Peterkin's daughters, also shared their relief at finally clearing their father's name and obtaining justice. They described him as a law-abiding citizen and a family man who did not deserve to spend time in prison. They also pointed out that their father was unfairly targeted and framed by Ridgewell, who was clearly racist and corrupt.
BTP Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi issued a statement expressing her sincere apologies for the trauma suffered by innocent individuals due to the criminal actions of Ridgewell. She admitted that the force had failed to act sooner to end his misconduct, resulting in the wrongful convictions of many innocent people. D'Orsi emphasized the importance of learning from this dark chapter in the force's history and committing to combating racism, including Afriphobia, which led to the targeting and destruction of African youths' lives.
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