This is Plymouth -- A MAN who was given a restraining order after he falsely claimed a dad abused his own daughter is appealing against a judge's decision to keep the order in place. Douglas Mudge, aged 60, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court today where he is aiming to appeal against a court decision to not have his restraining order discharged or varied. In October 2009 former pools winner Mudge, now aged 60, lied to police by accusing a father of abusing his own daughter. Prosecutors at the time said he made "32 calls to the police" reporting the father for four separate crimes which had to be investigated, including one claiming the father had indecently abused the child. Mudge claimed he heard the girl pleading with her father to leave her alone in the middle of the night. Police launched an investigation and interviewed the girl, both of her parents and her grandmother. However, police found the young girl was not even staying in the house next to the one where Mudge was staying at the time. During the trial, the court heard the man had been harassed and falsely accused by Mudge over five years, including claims to the police that he was guilty of theft and criminal damage. Mudge was jailed for 120 days by city magistrates in May 2010 for what they branded "totally abhorrent" false allegations. The court imposed indefinite restraining orders, thought to be the first of their kind in Plymouth, banning him from contacting or going near the man, his wife and their daughter. Mudge, of Priory Road, Compton, attempted to overturn the restraining order in February 2011, but withdrew his appeal in June the same year. Mudge again attempted to overturn the restraining order in April this year, claiming the restraining order was an "infringement on his liberty and human rights". However, at a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates Court in August, where Mudge attempted to have the order either overturned or have the conditions varied, the District Judge threw the case out. Mudge has now returned to court, said his barrister Malcolm Clarke, to have the order varied. Mr Clarke said his client wishes to vary the order because he wants to take action against the father he falsely accused. Prosecutor Laura Searle told the court that the falsely accused father and his wife had not been informed of Mudge's application and would very much like to make representation. Ms Recorder Vei Selvaratnum QC adjourned the hearing until a date could be set for them to be present.
Reported by This is 8 hours ago.
This is Plymouth -- A MAN who was given a restraining order after he falsely claimed a dad abused his own daughter is appealing against a judge's decision to keep the order in place. Douglas Mudge, aged 60, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court today where he is aiming to appeal against a court decision to not have his restraining order discharged or varied. In October 2009 former pools winner Mudge, now aged 60, lied to police by accusing a father of abusing his own daughter. Prosecutors at the time said he made "32 calls to the police" reporting the father for four separate crimes which had to be investigated, including one claiming the father had indecently abused the child. Mudge claimed he heard the girl pleading with her father to leave her alone in the middle of the night. Police launched an investigation and interviewed the girl, both of her parents and her grandmother. However, police found the young girl was not even staying in the house next to the one where Mudge was staying at the time. During the trial, the court heard the man had been harassed and falsely accused by Mudge over five years, including claims to the police that he was guilty of theft and criminal damage. Mudge was jailed for 120 days by city magistrates in May 2010 for what they branded "totally abhorrent" false allegations. The court imposed indefinite restraining orders, thought to be the first of their kind in Plymouth, banning him from contacting or going near the man, his wife and their daughter. Mudge, of Priory Road, Compton, attempted to overturn the restraining order in February 2011, but withdrew his appeal in June the same year. Mudge again attempted to overturn the restraining order in April this year, claiming the restraining order was an "infringement on his liberty and human rights". However, at a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates Court in August, where Mudge attempted to have the order either overturned or have the conditions varied, the District Judge threw the case out. Mudge has now returned to court, said his barrister Malcolm Clarke, to have the order varied. Mr Clarke said his client wishes to vary the order because he wants to take action against the father he falsely accused. Prosecutor Laura Searle told the court that the falsely accused father and his wife had not been informed of Mudge's application and would very much like to make representation. Ms Recorder Vei Selvaratnum QC adjourned the hearing until a date could be set for them to be present.
Reported by This is 8 hours ago.