Police 'regret' family's suffering

The family of a man wrongly blamed for causing a fatal road accident in Cornwall six years ago have welcomed a public apology from the police.

Police initially blamed the 1997 crash on the A30 at Roche in Cornwall on Nyall Stamper, 46, of Lanjeth, St Austell.

Mr Stamper, who was brain-damaged in the crash, won £1.25m compensation in March 2001 after a court overturned the force's claims that Mr Stamper was driving on the wrong side of the road.

On Tuesday the police apologised to Mr Stamper's family, which fought to clear his name, and revealed that a second officer in the case had been punished.

'Inaccurate evidence'

Nyall's father Harold said: "The punishment of the police officers is immaterial.

"The fact that the police accept that their claims are completely wrong, after six and a half years, is what's important."

Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Arnold, said: "Devon and Cornwall Constabulary deeply regrets the suffering the family have endured since the time of this accident, which has been due to the inaccurate presentation of evidence to the coroner.

"And I would like to use this opportunity to publicly apologise to the Stamper family."

The force said two officers had been "dealt with" following misconduct tribunals.

It did not reveal what punishment the officers faced.

Passenger died

Mr Stamper's Ford Sierra was involved in a head-on collision with a Vauxhall Corsa driven by Alistair McCormick, son of Eden Project and Alfred McAlpine director Derrick McCormick.

Philip Palmer, 41, one of Mr Stamper's passengers and butcher workmates, died in the crash.

Mr Stamper, who was trapped in his car for several hours, was kept in hospital for five months with serious head injuries.

An independent investigation into the conduct of the force's inquiries following the accident was carried out following concerns raised by Mr Stamper's parents.

The Avon and Somerset Constabulary was also asked to review the collision investigation procedures carried out at the time of the accident.

The Devon and Cornwall force said number of issues had been raised and these had now been incorporated in this force's collision investigation policy.