Rick Holland successfully defends Chief Inspector in mortgage fraud case.

Chief Inspector, John Buttress had been accused of dishonestly failing to tell his mortgage provider that a loan for his North Wales property was to fund a holiday business.

Mr Buttress was arrested in front of shocked colleagues at GMP’s Newton Heath HQ in March, 2013. At that time he had been a serving officer with the GMP for 18 years. At the same time his farmhouse and five other sites were raided by a squad of more than 30 officers.

It emerged during the trial that the force’s Counter Corruption Unit had started an investigation into Mr Buttress in 2012 after Mr. Buttress’s line manager, sent a report to the Professional Standards Unit of the GMP suggesting that he had involved in insider share dealing.

The allegation proved groundless but the probe into the officer’s financial affairs led to the police investigating his mortgage arrangements.

Mr Buttress’s defence involved accusations directed towards the conduct of the investigation by the Counter Corruption Unit.

Vast amounts of unused material needed to be considered (once obtained after S.8 CPIA hearings). Much was deployed during the trial.

The jury took 20 minutes to find him not guilty of fraud.

The cost of the police investigation and failed prosecution into Mr Buttress is estimated to be in excess of £1m

A statement from GMP said: “GMP will review the claims made by CI Buttress and establish whether there are any matters requiring further investigation.”

Find out more at the Manchester Evening News

Rick Holland was instructed by Alan Greenidge, Slater Gordon Solicitors