Doubts over the reliability of expert evidence at trial have led to a decision by the Criminal Cases Review Commission to ask the Court of Appeal to look again at the conviction of a man, known as E, on sex charges.

E, who has not been named for legal reasons, was convicted of six counts of rape, two of indecency and two of gross indecency in 2003. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment, appealed in 2004 but the appeal was dismissed and applied to the Commission in 2006.

The complaints which gave rise to the charges were reportedly made several years after the alleged offences took place and related to two girls who were below the age of fourteen at the time.

E was tried on charges arising from similar complaints from both girls. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges but was convicted of the charges relating to the allegations of one girl and acquitted on the charges relating to the allegations of the other.

Having reviewed various aspects of the case, including the reliability of expert evidence heard at the trial, the Commission said it had decided to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal as it believed there is a real possibility that the Court will quash the conviction.

The CCRC has told SEW News that it cannot identify the expert evidence specialism concerned for fear of inadvertently revealing the identity of the man E.