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AN investigation has been launched after rape case evidence fell into the hands of a member of the public.

A package containing a video, photographs and the victim's medical history was left at the offices of The Northern Echo, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, yesterday by a man who said they had been delivered in error to a friend's house.

Last night, the Crown Prosecution Service and two legal firms were looking into how the documents ended up in the public domain. The package was intended for Gavin John Ashley Roberts, a prisoner at HMP Acklington, near Morpeth, Northumberland.

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.

The documents were sent by Watson Woodhouse Solicitors, of Middlesbrough, two weeks ago.

Sean Grainger, a partner with the firm, said a man contacted the company yesterday saying he had the papers and wanted money in return for not contacting the press.

Mr Grainger travelled to Northallerton yesterday afternoon to collect the documents.

He said: "We will make inquiries into what has happened.

"We believe they have been sent out properly - there is nothing to indicate otherwise.

"We believe they went out to the right address." The solicitor said he would discuss the matter with other partners before making a decision on whether to call in the police.

The papers included the victim's address and personal letters from the woman to members of her family, as well as her statements to police.

Other documents, such as the victim's medical history, the defendant's custody records, photographs and a video used by the defence, letters from solicitors, court documents and witness statements were also present.

It is believed Roberts sent out the documents in the hope of finding a solicitor who would review his case for an appeal

against his conviction.

The prisoner was told he must register as a sex offender for life after being found guilty of two counts of raping a woman over 16 in 2005.

He was acquitted of a third charge of rape following the trial at Teesside Crown Court.

He was told after the trial that he had no grounds for appeal.

Last night, community leaders expressed concerns about the discovery of the documents.

Councillor Carl Les, North Yorkshire County Councillor and a member of the county's police authority, said he was always disappointed when mistakes like this happened.

He said: "I am sure that if lessons can be learnt from this they will be because the public needs to have confidence that the system works."

The Crown Prosecution Service and Hartlepool-based solicitors Donnelly Adamson, who represented Roberts during the trial, were also looking into the matter last night.

Documents from both organisations were in the package.

6:02am Wednesday 26th March 2008

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