pounds 16,000 for man wrongly jailed

A man who was wrongly convicted of an armed robbery has been paid pounds 16,000 in compensation by the Home Office.

Michael Boler, in his 30s, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was jailed for 10 years for a raid on the Halifax building society in Derby in 1989. Two witnesses picked him out at an identity parade despite an alibi.

Following a confession by another man his case was taken to the Appeal Court, which ordered a retrial. The Crown Prosecution Service then dropped all charges. The award was a discretionary payment.