Last updated at 11:42, Saturday, 07 April 2012

Two men have been awarded £100 each, after they helped convict a child abuser.

Matthew and Raymond Hilton had unwittingly become part of Daniel Black’s defence against the charge of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.

During Black’s first trial earlier this year, the prosecution had a statement from another girl who claimed Black had also driven her to the Solway and sent her explicit text messages – although he never assaulted her.

Judge Batty said that upon reading this statement, Black approached Matthew Hilton and asked for him to provide an alibi for him if requested.

Raymond Hilton, 40, said he became suspicious as soon as he answered his door to Mr Black.

He explained: “I had never seen him before and I thought he was after trouble because of the way he was putting himself across.

“It took a bit of coaxing to find out what he wanted. He told us he wanted my son to say he was in the car with him.

“He admitted that he wanted my son to lie for him.”

The girl’s statement was never produced in court, and so Black never called upon Mr Hilton again.

It was only after reading court coverage of the trial, which Mr Hilton had been unaware of, that he contacted police with his father and told them what he knew.

Mr Hilton said: “It came in the paper so I called the police and said ‘I don’t know if this is relevant but he came to my house’.

“We gave a statement and said we’d go to court if necessary.

“They told us it wouldn’t have gone the way it had gone if we hadn’t have got involved.”

The first case was immediately closed, and Black was subsequently charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Speaking after he sentenced Black Judge Batty said: “It seems to me that both father and son behaved in an extremely responsible and public-spirited fashion.

“Had they not come forward, justice might have been averted.”

He thanked the pair and rewarded them with £100 each.

First published at 08:58, Saturday, 07 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk