Dorset Police say teacher sex assault investigation was 'thorough'

The jury in the case of 58-year-old Philip Mark Mulcahy, a teacher at Bournemouth Collegiate School, unanimously found the defendant not guilty following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court in February.

Upon giving their verdict, jurors delivered a note to Judge Brian Forster QC, who said he’d contact the Chief Crown Prosecutor and the Chief Constable of Dorset Police.

The note said: “The investigation seems to have been poor and we are unable to understand on what basis the Crown Prosecution Service brought the case.”

Dorset Police then said it was conducting a review into the case.

Providing an update, a spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “Dorset Police can confirm that, following the trial, a full review of the investigation was conducted in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

“Following this review, we are satisfied that a thorough investigation took place and the evidence gathered met the full code test required by the CPS for charges to be brought.

“The matter was then correctly brought before a Crown Court to be considered and for a jury to ultimately reach a finding based on the evidence presented.”

The defendant, who had been a teacher for 35 years, had previously told the court he put his faith in police to carry out a “proper” investigation and that he had only been interviewed once by officers.

He also had to contact police himself for an update on the case, only to be told by DC Jo Shewbridge, officer in the case, he would hear from his solicitor.

The court was also told DC Shewbridge didn’t request CCTV from a school trip involving the defendant and complainant and didn’t interview other staff members on the trip.

The Dorset Police spokesperson said there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by officers involved and no officers or staff will face disciplinary proceedings.