Innocent man fined for poaching after real suspect caught in the act gives police his name

Luke Wayne Jackson was interviewed and reported for alleged poaching by North Yorkshire Police after officers were called to a field near Barton, a village in Richmondshire, in February 2014.

Members of rural watch group, Borderwatch, called the police and Jackson and another man were found to have a lamp and two lurcher dogs in their possession.

While being interviewed, Jackson, 25, from Park Lane, Darlington, gave officers false details of a person he knew as a schoolboy, along with his date of birth and old address.

The innocent man was convicted of the offence in his absence and fined in August 2014, North Yorkshire Police have revealed in a statement today.

Several months later, the man contacted the force say he had been contacted by bailiffs and denying he was the person who had committed the offence.

After officers launched an investigation to find the suspect’s real identity, fingerprints were retrieved from interview records from February 2014 and matched to Jackson’s.

Jackson was charged with perverting the course of justice and sentenced to eight months in jail at Teesside Crown Court on Friday.

In a statement released by the force today, North Yorkshire Police wildlife crime officer John Wilbor said: “This was a traumatic time for the person who was wrongly convicted of the offence due to Jackson’s intent on evading an investigation and prosecution.

“I am pleased North Yorkshire Police could correct the injustice.”