Brighton Men Acquitted On New Charges

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 13

Brighton Men Acquitted On New Charges

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 6

A suspended . police chief and a bar owner; who were acquitted Jast week of conspring to cheat justice were formally found not guilty today on further charges. Charles Ridge, aged 59, suspended Chief Constable of Brighton, and Anthony Lyons, aged 59, were discharged after the Judge Ordered the jury to return verdicts of not guilty on the additional charges. The Solicitor-General (Sir Harry Hylton-Foster) said no evidence was being offered against Ridge or Lyons as it was substantially the same as the testimony given in the month-long conspiracy case.

The outstanding indictment against Ridge was that he corruptly obtained a gift from Alan Roy Bennett, a former club owner in Brighton, for showing a favour. Two indictments against Lyons alleged that he incited Bennett corruptly .to give a reward ,tp

Ridge, and that he incited a woman corruptly to give a reward to Detective-Sergeant Trevor Heath, for showing a favour. Heath, aged 36, and DetectiveIqspector John Hammersley, aged 40, in the conspiracy trial at the Old Bailey, were imprisoned for five years. A bookmaker, Samuel Bellson, aged 42, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Ridge and Lyons pleaded not guilty today to the outstanding indictments.

After they had been discharged the Judge, Mr Justice Donovan spoke of British Railway’s police investigations into a £15,000 theft of cigarettes on which evidence was given during the conspiracy trial.

The Judge said the railway’s police had sent their own men into Brighton after losing faith in investigations made by the Brighton police. This referred to those members of the force encountered by a railway’s police superintendent. But there were members of the Brighton police, “who would be a credit to any force,” the Judge added.

It was not difficult, however, to foresee the use to which the incident might be put—to discredit officers of the Brighton police_ testifying in further he said.

“The prospect and this risk wilj» remain until a leader is given tathat force who will be a new influence, and who will set a different example from that has lately been obtained,” tho« Judge said. Brighton’s JVatch Committee, tomorrow will consider an appli~ cation by Ridge for his ment as Chief Constable of T Brighton. The Judge said that since thematter would affect the adminisr. tration of justice in Court, he feUit right to make his observations.. Ridge and Lyons afterwards de»n dined to answer reporters’! questions. o