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CPS LEFT WITH RED FACES Aug 1 2003

THE collapse of the John Leslie case is the latest in
a line of embarrassments for the Crown Prosecution
Service in England.

The CPS was established in 1985, but it has repeatedly
come under fire.

Recently, household names such as TV host Matthew
Kelly and rock star Pete Townshend found themselves
quizzed over paedophile allegations.

And ex-Tory MP, Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine
were named in an alleged sex scandal.

But despite all the publicity surrounding the
high-profile cases, there were no convictions.

Legal experts say the Leslie case would have been
handled very differently in Scotland.

There would have been no pre-trial publicity and, if
the case was abandoned, Leslie would have been told by
letter, rather than having to appear in a blaze of
publicity at court.

Leading Scots QC Paul McBride said: "It may well be
that the police were determined to get John Leslie to
court but that the CPS were reluctant, fearing he
could not get a fair trial or there was little
likelihood of a prosecution succeeding.

"However, the police prevailed and the case was
brought to court but it seems after today that, if
that was the situation, that the CPS has been right
all along."


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