Ex-Banker Wins £67k Over False Rape Link

A former banker has been awarded £67,750 after police named him among their "most wanted" over an alleged rape.

Anthony Crook's photo was on the front page of a local newspaper after being made public by Essex Police - but no charges were ever brought against him.

The publicity resulted in the 37-year-old losing his job and - in his words - becoming "unemployable".

He became depressed and began drinking heavily.

Judge Deborah Taylor ruled that police breached both data protection rules and Mr Crook's right to privacy.

She said: "No consideration was given to the realities of modern technology: firstly, the potential for information to spread across the internet, and secondly, the difficulty once spread in eradicating that."

The High Court heard how Mr Crook had offered to help police with their inquiries before the appeal was launched but was turned away.

He told Sky News: "They didn't let me leave any details. They actually sent me away with a bit of a flea in my ear for trying to leave my number.

"They made little or no effort to then find me, so you can imagine my shock when the first I knew about it was 12 months later under those particularly nasty headings."

Mr Crook said he had now abandoned any hope of returning to work in the City and was living abroad.

The payout sparks questions about whether people accused of rape should be named ahead of a conviction.

Mr Crook's solicitor, Nia Williams, said: "The police have to ensure that the release of that confidential and sensitive information is proportionate and reasonable and they have to balance the rights of the person who is being accused of the crime with the public interest."

Essex Police said they were considering an appeal, but added: "The force will be examining the judgement in detail to see if it can better inform its policies and procedures around the release of information on wanted people."