Former Oxford Union president Ben Sullivan attempted rape case under new review

One of the alleged victims claims the police investigation was flawed


The former Oxford Union president Ben Sullivan, who was cleared of sex attacks on two women, could face a new police quiz as prosecutors agreed to review the case. 

No further action was taken against Sullivan after he was arrested in May on suspicion of rape and attempted rape.

But now one of the students who claimed in January 2013 Sullivan tried to rape her after a night out has lodged a Victims’ Right to Review.

She says the original investigation was flawed and some potential witnesses were intimidated.

Sullivan, 22, who studies History and Politics at Christ Church Oxford, was arrested, questioned and spent six weeks on police bail before the case was dropped last year.

A source close to the original inquiry told the Sunday Mirror: “The view of many of those working on the case at the time was that it was not thoroughly investigated.

“Some officers already had fixed opinions before we had the full facts.”

Now lawyers will study all existing and any new evidence to establish whether any errors were made.

If investigators uncover any failings in the case, the Crown Prosecution Service can order police to reopen the case.

A Crown Prosecution spokeswoman said: “A request has been made through the CPS Victims’ Right to Review scheme for a review of the decision of no further action in this case.

“The VRR scheme gives victims the right to request a review of a CPS decision not to prosecute or to terminate criminal proceedings.”