webber Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Longer standing PW members may remember Winchester. He lost his licenses and guns about 6 years ago and caused something of a storm at the time due to lack of interest or support from some sporting organisations; sadly he got banned from this and a number of other forums. Earlier this morning I received a telephone call from Kev Hunter, he had lost my contact details, but eventually managed to get my number. It's a very long story which I'm sure will be reported in the shooting press in due course. The good news is that Winchester has now won his court cases and now has his FAC restored. The bad news is that the sorry saga has left him broke and unable to purchase replacement rifles and equipment. I for one wish him well in the future pursuit of the sport that we all sometime take for granted. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Trying to rack my brains about his case but cannot remember,did a search and there is a thread removed in 2008 which was probably about it,do you have a brief synopsis to kick start my memory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPARKIE Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Sort of remember it but fine details have been forgotten.... I can remember him coming to garlands once with us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chady Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 So the blokes flat broke from this?? Was it worth it?? Is there not a million other hobbies out there? How old is he what about retirement ect and family? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Sort of remember it but fine details have been forgotten.... I can remember him coming to garlands once with us Me too, Not someone I would spend much time with personally. In fact I think I left shortly after he got there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Here's an old post about it http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/185438-do-you-remember/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 http://jamesmarchington.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/i-just-want-to-clear-my-name.html?m=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 (edited) The original story was before my time on PW, but I am glad the fella pursued his case and won and I feel sorry for him that it has cost him a great deal. It isn't just about wanting to pursue a hobby, it is about principle, i applaud his fortitude in seeing this through as he has. I hope that as a result there will be ramifications for those that abused their position in authority to either pervert the outcome or placing obstacles in his way, but I rather fear there wont be. There is abuse in the system everyday, the evidence of that is overwhelming, however when large scale organised child abuse, such as seen in Rotherham, can be swept under the carpet with such apparent ease then the odds against an individual in winning against the machine are massive. Very well done to the man involved and I hope that he finds comfort from his win. Edited April 6, 2015 by grrclark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 http://jamesmarchington.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/i-just-want-to-clear-my-name.html?m=1 now i remember reading this, it all comes back now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 I'm glad he pursued it and won. Despite the obvious financial set back. Not only for himself but for anyone one of us that may be subjected to this ridiculous treatment. Proven innocent yet still treated as a criminal. BASC should be ashamed, yet It seems to just be another story of them doing the opposite of what they promote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) So the blokes flat broke from this?? Was it worth it?? Is there not a million other hobbies out there? How old is he what about retirement ect and family? Good point, well made... Clearly he thought it was worth it. Edited April 7, 2015 by Flashman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossEM Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Well done Mr Hunter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marki Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Bit sad really. I don't think anything was won, apart from the huge payout to the usual suspects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 I remember this case and how outraged I felt at the time. I wasn't aware however that it had been resolved to the vindication of the falsely accused. Good for him. Some things are more important than money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Just to put the record straight the member told us of his problem, and it was obvious that a court case was on the cards, this was before BASC had the legal expenses insurance, so the case had to go for review before funds could be released to pay for the case. The member left BASC before the case was reviewed and joined another association who, at the time, had legal expenses insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Longer standing PW members may remember Winchester. He lost his licenses and guns about 6 years ago and caused something of a storm at the time due to lack of interest or support from some sporting organisations; sadly he got banned from this and a number of other forums. Earlier this morning I received a telephone call from Kev Hunter, he had lost my contact details, but eventually managed to get my number. It's a very long story which I'm sure will be reported in the shooting press in due course. The good news is that Winchester has now won his court cases and now has his FAC restored. The bad news is that the sorry saga has left him broke and unable to purchase replacement rifles and equipment. I for one wish him well in the future pursuit of the sport that we all sometime take for granted. webber Thanks for posting I remember this case and how outraged I felt at the time. I wasn't aware however that it had been resolved to the vindication of the falsely accused. Good for him. Some things are more important than money. Emphatically +1. Now this is finally resolved, the situation needs sorting. The guy was charged with an offence for which he supplied irrefutable evidence of his innocence. We are not supposed to prove our innocence - the authorities/judiciary are supposed to prove our guilt if applicable. He should be fully reimbursed on both financial and moral grounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Just to put the record straight the member told us of his problem, and it was obvious that a court case was on the cards, this was before BASC had the legal expenses insurance, so the case had to go for review before funds could be released to pay for the case. The member left BASC before the case was reviewed and joined another association who, at the time, had legal expenses insurance. Without going into the specifics of this case, with BASC's revenue it should consider taking on cases where the Police are clearly overstepping the mark. This isn't about legal expenses, it's about protecting all shooters from arbitrary policing decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Without going into the specifics of this case, with BASC's revenue it should consider taking on cases where the Police are clearly overstepping the mark. This isn't about legal expenses, it's about protecting all shooters from arbitrary policing decisions. Precisely. I'm no longer of BASC member but if they - or anyone else for that matter - have the bottle/expertise to pick up on this and get this travesty of justice rectified on behalf of all shooting sportsmen, just tell me where to send my small donation towards the initial funding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 And also getting the public to understand that they cannot just walk anywhere, we get problems like this all the time in the lakes. Pleased it is all resolved just sad that it cost him so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 BASC will take on cases, and have on many occasions, where the police are in the wrong. But all cases need to be assessed, obviously. No point going to court, and incur a cost of £10-50,000 if there is no chance of success. In the past this cost came from reserves and each case needed to go through an internal review to agree the release of funds before it was passed to a specialist firearms lawyer. Now with the insurance in place it goes directly to a specialist firearms lawyer for assessment. If a member leaves before funds are released or before the case file has been assessed by a specialist lawyer and chooses to try another path via another organisation there is nothing we can do. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 BASC will take on cases, and have on many occasions, where the police are in the wrong. But all cases need to be assessed, obviously. No point going to court, and incur a cost of £10-50,000 if there is no chance of success. In the past this cost came from reserves and each case needed to go through an internal review to agree the release of funds before it was passed to a specialist firearms lawyer. Now with the insurance in place it goes directly to a specialist firearms lawyer for assessment. If a member leaves before funds are released or before the case file has been assessed by a specialist lawyer and chooses to try another path via another organisation there is nothing we can do. David Fair enough i think! To Mr Hunter i am sorry to hear that the justice he sought has cost him so dearly, it reminds me of Mick Shepherds case which similarly was very poorly handled ( though it was before my joining the shooting community ). Passionate knowledgeable people hold this community of people together and I'm pleased he had the strength to see this case through i hope the trouble it has bought him and his family is not enough to ruin his enjoyment of the sport we all enjoy. Was his confiscated property returned to him or was it sold to cover his expenses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Fair enough i think! One can do no other than agree. The nature of the organisation is such that it is obliged only to act on behalf of its members and is therefore unable to act, 'for the good'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 I'm so glad he found the means to persevere and won. ISTR something about his guns being taken complete with scopes etc. Can anyone confirm that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 BASC will take on cases, and have on many occasions, where the police are in the wrong. But all cases need to be assessed, obviously. No point going to court, and incur a cost of £10-50,000 if there is no chance of success. In the past this cost came from reserves and each case needed to go through an internal review to agree the release of funds before it was passed to a specialist firearms lawyer. Now with the insurance in place it goes directly to a specialist firearms lawyer for assessment. If a member leaves before funds are released or before the case file has been assessed by a specialist lawyer and chooses to try another path via another organisation there is nothing we can do. David If you are claiming it will be on a "losses occurring during" basis surely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted April 7, 2015 Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 Sorry not sure what you mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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