Three wrongly accused of abuse after BT error
A wiring mistake by a BT engineer led police to three innocent people whose home was wrongly linked to child abuse images in 2016. Two men and one woman endured searches, device seizures and child protection investigations after crossed wires in a street cabinet connected their address to illegal downloads traced by authorities. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal found Dyfed-Powys Police acted lawfully throughout the probe.
The error devastated the victims’ lives, as each faced workplace disclosure requirements and scrutiny from social services. One woman could not live with her children until cleared, while one man lost employment and another faced work restrictions. Police later arrested the actual offender, who lived nearby, after discovering the technical fault.
The tribunal denied compensation, ruling that officers followed proper procedures and responded appropriately after learning of the mistake. BT acknowledged that two wires were accidentally reversed, causing the IP address mixup. Authorities commended the three victims for their cooperation and dignity throughout the ordeal.
