Wrongful imprisonment was 'like a kangaroo court'

A cleaner who spent a week in prison after being wrongfully accused of sparking anti-immigration disorder in Thetford has told the BBC he has "run out of tears" over the ordeal.

Addresses on five streets in the Norfolk town were targeted by crowds over three nights in August, prompting violent scenes which saw asylum seekers escorted from houses by police.

James Jobson, from Highlow Road in Costessey, near Norwich, was charged with misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing the addresses of the properties and spent seven days in Norwich Prison, before the charges were dropped.

Jobson, worked as a cleaner for Home Office contractor Serco, cleaning properties across East Anglia which were used to house asylum seekers.

The riots broke out a day after Jobson was sent to Thetford by his employer.

He was arrested on Friday August 7, accused of running a Facebook page called the HMO Inspector, which posted images from inside houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) in Thetford which were being used by migrants.

The 62-year-old said he struggles to use Facebook and believes the case against him was "rushed."

He added: "I think the police thought they had got their person so quick and just wanted a quick result."

After the initial arrest, Jobson, was released, but was rearrested a week later on August 14, accused of breaching his bail conditions after more posts appeared on the account.

He said: "I opened the door and asked them: 'So everything's all okay now?'

"They said no, and then they put the cuffs back on and took me in.

"I thought to myself while I was in there, 'it seems a bit Mickey Mouse, this'.

"It was like a kangaroo court in a police station."

He was charged with misconduct in public office and held in a cell until his appearance at Norwich Magistrates Court. He then spent seven days in prison until being informed the charges against him had been dropped and he was released from custody.

The father of four and grandfather of nine, has Type II diabetes, ADHD and suffered a stroke two years ago.

He said he was on nine forms of medication, which he did not receive until "about three days in" and only received the next dose on the day of his release.

He said it left him hallucinating "seeing spiders climbing up the wall" and "flashing and wobbling" in his eyes.

"I cried so many tears that I think I've run out," he added.

His wife, Lisa Jobson, said: "We were pulling our hair out.

"For those two weeks, I just thought like our world had been turned upside down."

Jobson said: "It's never going to go away."

He has since been prescribed medication for stress and refuses to use social media.

He has been left with £1,250 in solicitors' fees and has not decided whether to pursue legal action against the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

"We've got to try and get back to some sort of normal, but it's just not easy."

Norfolk Constabulary said officers had continued to examine Mr Jobson's devices after he was sent to prison and that a review "identified no evidence" linking him with the HMO Inspector account.

After a conversation with the CPS, the charges were dropped.

A police spokeswoman said: "At the time of charge, investigators had gathered evidence through enquiries with his employer which they believed provided sufficient grounds to identify Mr Jobson as being responsible for the account and to seek a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service.

"The available evidence was put to Mr Jobson in interview, who did not provide an account and exercised his legal right to provide "no comment".

"As a result, officers had no lines of inquiry offered to them by Mr Jobson to negate the allegations.

"As enquiries continued following charge, investigators proactively identified material that undermined the case and this was brought to the attention of the CPS at the earliest opportunity."

She added that "operational decisions are made independently and based on evidence, not political considerations".

A CPS spokesman previously apologised to "James Jobson and his family".

He said it had been alerted "of an inaccuracy in the notice sent to the prison and worked quickly to rectify this so he can be released without further delay."

Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.