Innocent man who spent 17 years behind bars leaves UK for new life abroad

An innocent man who spent 17 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit has left the UK for a new life abroad. Andrew Malkinson had his conviction quashed earlier this week after always maintaining his innocence.

He has now left the country and has hopes of becoming a Dutch citizen, The Mirror reported. Mr Malkinson was found guilty by a jury of carrying out the violent attack on a woman by the M61 motorway in Little Hulton in July 2003.

The following year he was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years, despite no DNA evidence linking him to the crime. He remained in prison for a further 10 years, after maintaining he was not guilty.

Mr Malkinson's case was eventually referred to the Court of Appeal in January by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) after new DNA evidence was discovered. On Wednesday, his conviction was overturned.

GMP apologised for the 'grave miscarriage of justice'. Earlier today, he boarded a Eurostar train from London’s St Pancras Station to Amsterdam, and said he hopes to become a Dutch national.

"It’s been a long time coming but this is the first day of the rest of my life," he said. "I was born here but I don’t identify with it and it doesn’t feel like home after what I’ve been through.

"I feel more Dutch than English and I’d like the Foreign Office to negotiate a Dutch passport. I don’t think it’s a big ask on humanitarian grounds." Mr Malkinson had been working in the country before returning to the UK in 2003.

"If I hadn’t have been arrested, I’d have been [in Holland] 23 years now and be eligible for a passport. They took everything – love, relationships, joy. I hope going to Holland will help the healing. I’ll be back with friends."

Two officers who put Mr Malkinson in