Conviction 30 yrs Ago

[JOHNG60]

In 1980, when I was 19 yr old, I was in the forces and was ashore with 2 other lads when we ended in a bit of a scuffle with 2 army lads after a night out. All I did was kick one of the lads up the backside when he was running off. The 3 of us were subsequently arrested. The following day, the police told me that if I pleaded guilty I would get a fine in court and would be able to rejoin my ship. So that's what I done. I was charged with GBH and given a fine. I didn't realise how serious GBH was at the time. I wasn't offered legal advice and it was before PACE 1984. I think I should have been charged with at least Common Assault. Now I have a record of GBH on CRB and have been turned down for many a job due to this fact. Is there anything I can do to clear this charge of GBH which I don't think I should have been given?

[Buenchico]

The vast majority of jobs don't require a CRB check and (since your conviction is 'spent', for most purposes, under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act) you can lawfully answer 'No' to any questions about criminal convictions (except for employment applications in 'exempted' areas, such as working with or alongside children or vulnerable adults). So I'm surprised that you've been turned down for jobs, since you don't need to tell most potential employers about your conviction and most employers should have no access to a CRB check.

There's no way you could now appeal against conviction. You should simply concentrate on applying for employment in those fields which don't require a CRB check (which still leaves the vast majority of jobs open to you).

Chris