A MAN was last night being questioned by police in connection with an alleged attempt to blackmail solicitors after evidence from a rape case apparently went missing in the post.
A package containing a video, photographs and the victim's medical history was sent by Watson Woodhouse Solicitors, of Middlesbrough, two weeks ago.
The dossier was intended for Gavin John Ashley Roberts, a prisoner at HMP Acklington, near Morpeth, Northumberland.
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However, a man walked into the offices of The Northern Echo, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, with the documents on Tuesday.
The man told staff the package had been delivered in error to a friend's house, adding that he wanted the mistake to be exposed in the newspaper.
It is believed the man handed over the documents after solicitors refused to pay to keep the alleged error out of the press.
A spokesman from Watson Woodhouse Solicitors said: "We can confirm that during the course of March 28 we received a number of telephone calls from an anonymous man who claimed to have possession of a set of papers from a past criminal case.
"The telephone calls constituted blackmail.
"The caller demanded money or he would go to the press and claim to have received the papers through an administrative error on the part of our office.
"We have now made an official complaint of blackmail to North Yorkshire Police."
The firm has launched an internal investigation into the incident.
Roberts, 31, of Gala Close, Hartlepool, was sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of rape in January last year.
He was acquitted of a third charge of rape following the trial at Teesside Crown Court.
The dossier included the victim's address, witness statements, her medical history, photographs and a video.
It is believed the material was used by Roberts' defence team during his trial.
Detectives in Northallerton arrested a 47-year-old local man in connection with the investigation yesterday afternoon.
The man was last night being questioned.
A spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that North Yorkshire Police has received a report relating to an alleged blackmail incident in the Northallerton area."
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