Andrew Malkinson: Wrongly jailed man 'broke' and living in tent

Andrew Malkinson's case was described as "an atrocious miscarriage of justice" by the government

A man who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit has said he is "broke" and living in a tent.

Andrew Malkinson was a 37-year-old security guard in Salford in 2003 when he was wrongly charged with the attack on a mother-of-two.

He was declared innocent in July after the Court of Appeal heard allegations of major failures.

Mr Malkinson, now 57, is expecting to be compensated but has told how he is currently living on benefits.

He said he had been warned it could be two years until he receives any money, despite the government describing his case as "an atrocious miscarriage of justice".

"I'm on benefits. I don't have a job, I'm living in a tent. I'm basically homeless and waiting for them to do the right thing," he said.

"They have the power to do the right thing but they chose to take their time."

He is currently living in a tent in Spain

Mr Malkinson fought for 20 years until the court finally overturned his conviction after forensic testing linked another man to the crime.

He could have been released after six and a half years if he had given a false confession - something he was never willing to do.

He has since travelled to Amsterdam to stay close to an ex-partner, Karin Schuitemaker, who he said never lost faith in his innocence.

Following a recent visit back to London to see his legal team he said he had lost faith in the UK and is currently living in a tent in the Spanish city of Seville.

Living in a tent allows him to enjoy "the anonymity and nature", he said, adding that he "cannot bear" to be in Britain.

"This horror will always be with me," he said.

"I don't trust the British. Hillsborough. Bloody Sunday. They can't face the truth."

Andrew Malkinson, pictured in younger years

He said a forthcoming independent inquiry into his case must be statutory in nature, meaning authorities such as the police will be compelled to give evidence under oath.

"We had to take them to a judicial review for evidence which they knew was important," he said.

"A non-statutory inquiry isn't going to cut it. They have been everything but honest.

"They are not going to give up anything without having their arm twisted up their back.

"They need to be compelled. They won't do the right thing unless they are compelled."

Andrew Malkinson stayed in Amsterdam with his ex-partner after his acquittal

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The Lord Chancellor has been clear Andrew Malkinson suffered an atrocious miscarriage of justice and he deserves thorough and honest answers as to how and why it took so long to uncover.

"The Criminal Cases Review Commission, Crown Prosecution Service and Greater Manchester Police have all pledged their full cooperation to the independent inquiry into the handling of his conviction and subsequent appeals."

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