Court quashes 1976 convictions of two men framed by corrupt London officer
Christopher Poulter and Kevin Biggs exonerated 50 years after wrongful theft conviction linked to Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell.
What to know
- Two men's 1976 theft convictions quashed 50 years later after evidence proved they were framed by corrupt Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell, who stole over £1m and fabricated cases against innocent young Black men.
- Kevin Biggs died in 2004 without learning of his exoneration; Christopher Poulter spent most of his life as a convicted criminal based on false evidence.
- British Transport Police acknowledged Ridgewell's corruption only in 2020, decades after it was discovered in 1980, drawing criticism for prolonged inaction from lawyers representing his victims.
- Poulter and Biggs are the 14th and 15th people to have convictions overturned related to Ridgewell's misconduct; the CCRC is urging others who believe they were framed to apply for review.
“The British Transport Police knew for certain that the police officer whose evidence sent them to jail was corrupt just four years after they were convicted, and probably a lot earlier.”
Jenny Wiltshire, Lawyer, Hickman & Rose · The Guardian ↗ · Sep 21
Christopher Poulter Wrongfully convicted defendantKevin Biggs Wrongfully convicted defendant (deceased)Derek Ridgewell Corrupt Detective SergeantJenny Wiltshire Lawyer representing Ridgewell's victimsVera Baird KC Chair of Criminal Cases Review CommissionBritish Transport Police Law enforcement agency
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Lawyer criticises British Transport Police for decades of inaction
Jenny Wiltshire, who has represented many of Ridgewell's victims, calls it a "disgrace" that British Transport Police took so long to track down the men and took no action for decades despite knowing Ridgewell was corrupt by 1980.
“As a result of this inaction, Christopher Poulter has lived the majority of his life as a convicted criminal. Kevin Biggs died as one.”
— Jenny Wiltshire, Hickman & Rose -
first by Guardian, 1d ago
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Two men arrested by corrupt police officer finally have convictions quashed after 50 years https://www. independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim e/christopher-poulter-kevin-biggs-derek-ridgewell-b3054325.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into UK Crime News @ uk-crime-news-Independent
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Court quashes 1976 theft convictions over link to corrupt London police officer https://www. theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/s ep/22/court-quashes-1976-convictions-corrupt-london-police-officer-derek-ridgewell
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background
Court of Appeal quashes Poulter and Biggs convictions — At a hearing on Tuesday, Lord Justice Edis and two other justices quashed the convictions of both men, noting their appeals should have been heard together. Poulter and Biggs become the 14th and 15th people to have convictions overturned due to Ridgewell's misconduct.
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Third co-defendant Stephen Simmons has conviction quashed — Stephen Simmons, who was convicted alongside Poulter and Biggs in 1976, had his conviction overturned, signaling problems with the original case.
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Kevin Biggs dies, still a convicted criminal — Biggs died without learning his conviction would be overturned, remaining on record as a convicted felon despite his innocence.
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Corrupt police officer Derek Ridgewell jailed for theft and framing suspects — Detective Sergeant Ridgewell was imprisoned for seven years after stealing more than £1 million in goods. He was found to have framed innocent young Black men for his own crimes.
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Poulter and Biggs convicted of mailbag theft in London — Christopher Poulter, 21, and Kevin Biggs, 18, were convicted at Inner London Crown Court of stealing 13 mailbags from a wagon in Clapham goods yard. Poulter was sentenced to one year in prison; Biggs to borstal training. Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell was one of three officers said to have witnessed the crime.