GMP told to reinvestigate complaint over 999 call following 'assault'

Police have been ordered to reinvestigate a 59-year-old man’s complaint over their treatment of him after he dialled 999 to report an assault by a woman. The woman went on to accuse Paul Nugent, from Heywood, of raping her on three occasions. But he has never been charged with the offence.

Mr Nugent, himself a former military policeman, says the false allegations have ‘ruined my life and driven me to the brink of taking my own life’. Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for Policing has informed him that his claims are being referred back for further investigation.

As highlighted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in January, Mr Nugent made official complaints to Greater Manchester Police’s Professional Standards Branch over what he alleged was Rochdale division’s failure to bring charges against his accuser for making the allegations and, he said, ‘ignoring’ evidence which would have established his innocence.

READ MORE: 'I was out of the country and I'm not physically capable - but a rape allegation is ruining my life'

Now, in a letter to Mr Nugent seen by the LDRS, the Assistant-Deputy Mayor for Policing Baroness Bev Hughes says: “I realise that making a complaint against the police, is, for most people, the last resort when they have tried other ways of getting answers about an incident that has affected their lives. I do not consider Greater Manchester Police’s findings are reasonable and proportionate. Your review has been upheld.”

Baroness Hughes said she was returning Mr Nugent’s complaint to GMP for ‘further action’. She went on: “If you wish to challenge the outcome of the review of your complaint, you may seek a judicial review.”

Specifically, she recommended that GMP ‘considers providing Mr Nugent