A WARRINGTON-BASED detective who turned law student to help secure a robber’s conviction is a finalist in the UK’s first ever national award for detectives.
Detective Constable Stephen Hopkins decided to act after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) refused to prosecute in the case of an 85-year-old World War II veteran, who was the victim of a distraction burglary.
The victim, Edwin Stout, who was in poor health, had admitted a woman posing as a council employee to his home.
Having gained entry, she let a man in and they assaulted the victim and stole his wallet.
An examination of the scene identified a fingerprint on documents left by the female, but it did not match any on the police database.
Mr Stout never fully recovered from the attack and died in a care home five months later.
In 2009, a 21-year-old woman, Adele Carney, was arrested for a minor offence for which her fingerprints were taken and matched to those from the robbery. She was arrested and interviewed but denied involvement, claiming instead the victim had attempted to sexually assault her.
She later admitted lying and confessed that she was present during the robbery but denied taking part in the violence.
The CPS would not pursue the prosecution as Mr Stout, the only witness, was by this time deceased. DC Hopkins was so appalled by this that he bought law books and studied the law on hearsay evidence in his own time to force reluctant prosecutors to act.
He even contacted a Cambridge University law professor who was involved in drafting the legislation and compiled a 17-page dossier explaining why the CPS could pursue the case.
Prosecutors eventually changed their minds and in early 2010 Carney pleaded guilty and was jailed for four years.
The case is now used as an aide in the training of prosecutors.
DC Hopkins has been nominated and shortlisted for an award at the inaugural Police Federation National Detective Awards, being held in London.
Cheshire Police Authority has already awarded DC Hopkins a commendation, its highest accolade, for his tenacious pursuit of the robber.
Simon Roberts, chairman of Cheshire Police Federation, said: “This investigation is a great example of truly outstanding police work.”
