Driver wins case but is left out of pocket

Having overturned his conviction, driver Stephen McFarlane is campaigning to increase the compensation available to those wrongly hauled to court.

McFarlane had been convicted of failing to identifying the driver of his DJV Transport Scania after a minor incident in London almost 18 months ago. He had repeatedly written to the court identifying his employer as the owner and himself as the driver. His employer had returned the requisite forms to the police. But each time the case was postponed and no remedial action was taken by the CPS.

After McFarlane's conviction, a clerk of the court said the case should never have been brought.

Following CM's involvement the case was reopened and the magistrate threw out all charges. But McFarlane says he has been left out of pocket as the court only awarded him £50 travelling costs.

"I lost two days' work to attend, and in the region of £2,000," he reports.

The CPS and the Metropolitan Police have failed to explain to CM why the case was pursued.