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'Police mocked my rights'
Page 12
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A British driver has vowed to clear his name after being jailed by the French in breach of his human rights. Jennifer Ball reports.
Exclusive!
A TRUCK DRIVER jailed in France for 18 months for drug smuggling aims to prove his innocence at the European Court of Human Rights.
David Stevenson was sentenced to two years' jail and a €381,000 (1253,179)f= within hours of being arrested at Calais on 9 November 2002 after picking up a loaded trailer for P&O Ferrymasters from a regular client in France.
The prosecution claimed he loaded the seven pallets containing 250kg of cannabis, atAdvinkerque. But his tachograph showed it was impossible for him to have loaded and shrink-wrapped the pallets during his two stops. He was finally released last May (CM 17 June).
Stevenson, who has always protested his innocence, says: "I was not given a fair trial and the police's actions made a mockery of my human rights. They even refused to let me have an interpreter or make a phone call home.The court refused to look at CCTV footage of me which would have proved my whereabouts.
"1 want to see a change in the law, which allows drivers to defend themselves on the grounds that they could not reasonably be expected to know about concealed goods in their load. I am determined to clear my name."
Stevenson's solicitor, Jane George from Rothera Dowson, says there are some clear doubts over whether he was given a fair trial:"David did not understand the procedures when he was arrested and taken to court because of the language barrier. Under Article 6 of European human rights law you have the right to a fair trial, and are innocent until proven guilty.
But his story suggests this did not happen," says George.
"UK lorry drivers are very vulnerable to being pulled up and dealt with speedily by foreign courts without knowing what is happening," she warns.