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Police locked me up when I blamed them over my son's killing
Benedict Moore-Bridger9 Mar 2009
A property developer is suing the Metropolitan police over a string of allegations including corruption, false imprisonment and assault.
Timothy Gosselin says he was beaten, arrested and locked up after he criticised the force following the killing of his son by his former wife. He is claiming damages that could amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Alexander Gosselin, 13, was killed by his mother Lesley Wessel in September 2000. Suffering depression and having separated from the man she married after Mr Gosselin, Ms Wessel gave Alexander the tranquilliser Temazepam, strangled him with a cord, then tried to commit suicide.
Officers found the pair under a quilt at their home in Findon, West Sussex. Above the bed, written in red, were the words: "Alex and I are free, no more cruelty." Ms Wessel survived and admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. In 2001 she was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail. She served just over half the term, but killed herself shortly after release, aged 45. She had taken an overdose of antidepressants.
Mr Gosselin, 60, separated from Ms Wessell in 1989. He claims he warned police repeatedly about the danger his wife posed to their son, but was ignored. He was banned by the court from seeing Alexander following the separation and said he only found out about the killing after Ms Wessel's conviction. Mr Gosselin then complained to the Met Commissioner over "mammoth police failings" which he claims could have prevented his son's death.
In papers filed with the High Court this month, Mr Gosselin, of Battersea, accuses the Met and an Inspector Ross Cook of false and malicious prosecution, wrongful arrest and detention, and false imprisonment after he made the complaints.
Mr Cook, then at Wandsworth police, had been sent to Mr Gosselin's home to discuss the issue. Mr Gosselin claims that after he threatened to speak out he was told: "We don't want you talking to the press, and if you insist on talking to the press we will put you where you can't talk to the press."
He says that on refusing to obey, he was handcuffed and held at Battersea police station.
He also claims Mr Cook punched him in the kidneys. Mr Gosselin was subsequently charged with "making threats to kill" but a judge threw out the case in February 2002. He had been held on remand for more than three months and claims he was denied private meetings with his solicitors.
He told the Evening Standard: "It was a complete abuse of power. I feel distraught about Alexander's death and the way I was treated. Unless someone does something about it I feel it could happen to someone else. It's not about money, it's about justice."
Scotland Yard refused to comment.
Reader views (8)
No suprises here, speak out about the incompetence and corruption of London's police and you will be targeted. I speak from experience.
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- Michael, Metrropolitan area, 10/03/2009 07:43
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Welcome to ZaNu Labour's Police State Britain!
- Derrick, A Once Great Land, 09/03/2009 21:50
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Sack the cop and his senior officer. Modern Britain has no time for thugs in uniform.
- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK, 09/03/2009 18:45
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With Nu Labor "in charge" and Crash Gordon running around this disgrace does not surprise me at all. The police is not so good anymore. The "force" seems very interested to sit behind their desks. And there are too many of them.
- Steveo, London, 09/03/2009 18:38
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Let's hear the man and have it all out
- Paul, Bromley, 09/03/2009 18:30
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Nothing would surprise me about what police officers do. I hope this man gets justice but somehow I doubt he will - at least his story is in the news now.
- Real, London, 09/03/2009 14:37
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i wonder why the peole are losing faith in the police and courts ???
- Phelps Robert, bussiere poitevine, 09/03/2009 13:39
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How can Scotland Yard be allowed to refuse to comment?
- St, London, 09/03/2009 12:51
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