Andrew Malkinson, who spent over 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, has spoken out about his conviction, stating he has been "cheated, very badly cheated." His comments come after the man responsible for the brutal 2003 attack in Greater Manchester, Paul Quinn, was finally convicted of rape, strangulation, and grievous bodily harm last month.

Malkinson, now 60, was blamed for the crime for two decades, a period that has been described as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history. His case highlights systemic failures that led to his wrongful imprisonment, despite the absence of DNA evidence linking him to the crime. His conviction was based on his identification at a police parade.

Speaking on the BBC's Shadow World: Stolen Years podcast, Malkinson shared his mixed emotions. He expressed thankfulness that the authorities had apprehended the actual perpetrator and relief for the victim, acknowledging that both had suffered for a quarter of a century. However, he also felt a surge of anger, stating he had "done somebody else's punishment" for so long.

The implications of Quinn's conviction are significant, not only for Malkinson's personal vindication but also for the ongoing legal processes surrounding his case. Malkinson is awaiting the outcome of a judge-led inquiry into his wrongful conviction, which is expected to be a crucial factor in his pursuit of compensation. This inquiry aims to scrutinize the reasons behind his erroneous imprisonment.

Malkinson's conviction was eventually quashed in 2023 after the Crown Prosecution Service acknowledged that new DNA evidence recovered from the victim's clothing could only have come from the true attacker. The Court of Appeal also noted that crucial evidence that could have supported Malkinson's defense had not been disclosed during his original trial.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission, an organization tasked with reviewing potential miscarriages of justice, had previously refused to assist Malkinson on two occasions. An independent report released last year heavily criticized the commission for a series of failures, including its inaction on the new DNA evidence when it came to its attention.

Furthermore, Greater Manchester Police's handling of Malkinson's case is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The conduct of six police officers involved in the original investigation is also being examined as part of this broader inquiry into potential misconduct and procedural errors.

While Quinn's conviction brings a measure of closure, Malkinson's fight for full justice and accountability continues. The findings of the ongoing inquiries are anticipated to shed further light on the systemic issues that allowed such a profound miscarriage of justice to occur and to inform the process of seeking redress.