Teenager cleared of setting fire to Miss Selfridge during Manchester riots

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

A teenager who spent nine days in prison after being charged with setting fire to Miss Selfridge during the Manchester riots has been cleared after new evidence emerged confirming his innocence.

Dane Williamson, 18, said he had had a nightmarish ordeal after he was charged with being involved in causing £500,000 damage to the Market Street store during the riots, despite having five alibis.

He was charged with criminal damage and being reckless over property damage or endangering life. His name was widely reported and Facebook groups were set up on which he was identified and subjected to abuse.

Williamson's flat in Salford was damaged by fire while he was on remand in Forest Bank prison; he lost all of his possessions and is now homeless. He suffered panic attacks after he was targeted by other prisoners who taunted him about what he had supposedly done.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/21/dane-williamson-cleared-manchester-riots

[Kurmudgeon]

1. It's always a good thing when the innocent are cleared. What an ordeal!

And looks like it's not over yet seeing he's homeless and lost all his possessions.

[Hydra]

2. Roll up scapegoat #2 n/t