I saw GMP hunt down the wrong man. These haunting questions must be answered now

Crime stories were a regular part of my job as a district reporter in Salford from 1988 to 2006. But some have stayed with me to this day.

On the 24th July 2003 I wrote for the MEN: "A mum who was choked, battered unconscious, and then raped by a maniac has told police how she thought she would die". Also, what will GMP do to discover the root cause of such a disgraceful miscarriage of justice - and will the officers who drove the initial inquiry ever be made accountable?

The evidence which didn't add up - how could this happen? Andrew Malkinson was convicted without any DNA evidence linking him to the crime. And two key witnesses - a couple who gave crucial evidence for the prosecution - had 16 convictions for 38 offences between them, including dishonesty. The officers told me the victim had remained unconscious for 30 minutes before staggering up the embankment and walking towards Farnworth where she was found by a passer-by who helped her. The attack happened between 4.30am and 5.30am. GMP gave me a description of the rapist provided by the victim.

Indeed, decades on, Mr Malkinson's case reads like a reckless pursuit for a result in an episode of Life on Mars. The circumstances of his arrest were bizarre. Ten days after the rape, police issued an e-fit of the suspect based on the victim's description. Two neighbourhood officers in the Little Hulton and Walkden area would stop Mr Malkinson as he rode pillion on an off-road motorbike with the son of a couple he was staying with at the time in Walkden.

In 2017 Mr Malkinson found what would turn out to be his lifeline - the organisation APPEAL, who took on his case. They requested access to the victim’s clothing in order to carry out further DNA testing, but the police could not find key exhibits in the case. There are concerns about the conduct of officers in this case. Has GMP taken them seriously enough? Mr Malkinson and APPEAL made a complaint to GMP in July 2022. It was recorded by the GMP's Professional Standards Branch and was regarding concerns raised in relation to certain aspects of the historical conduct of the case.

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