Journalist criticised by police

Journalist criticised by police

Don Hale won an OBE in December

A former newspaper editor who won an OBE for his campaign to free Stephen Downing has been criticised in a police report.

Detectives claim Don Hale, who was given a string of press awards and was commended by the Prime Minister for his work, attributed comments to people he had not spoken to.

But speaking after Derbyshire Police released their latest report into the case, Mr Hale said he stood by the accuracy of his book.

He also said it was not uncommon for people to change their accounts when interviewed by the police, because such accounts then became official.

Mr Hale began his efforts to clear Mr Downing's name in 1994 while he was editor of the Matlock Mercury, in Derbyshire.

But in a report released on Thursday, police rejected 22 alternative suspects put forward by his supporters.

Police said a line-by-line analysis of Mr Hale's book about the case had shown discrepancies.

The report, written by Deputy Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police Bob Wood, said: "There are a number of anomalies contained within Mr Hale's documentation, and within Town Without Pity, that, taken in isolation, have the potential to detract the reader from the facts surrounding the case."

Wendy Sewell

Click here for main story on the police report

His report stated: "A number of witnesses to whom Mr Hale attributes personal comment have told officers they have never spoken to him.

"Many witnesses who recalled speaking to Mr Hale say his written version is not their recollection of what was said."

The report also said that speculation in the book that Mrs Sewell was meeting an illicit boyfriend at the time of her death was incorrect.

Missing bag

"The speculation that Mrs Sewell was meeting a lover is incorrect.

"Officers have found a new witness who spoke to Mrs Sewell at 11.30am on the morning she died.

"Mrs Sewell told her she was going to visit the cemetery to look at headstones for her father's grave.

"Mr Hale draws significance to Mrs Sewell's missing bag and says her personal effects were never found.

"In fact, the bag and her belongings were returned to Mr Sewell shortly after the murder."

Wendy Sewell's widower, David, praised the police report for being "comprehensive" but was disappointed Wendy's killer was not named.

"I regret that the offender had not been more clearly identified... after all that is the purpose of a murder inquiry."