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Fake forensic expert jailed for five years

Adam Derbyshire
28/ 2/2007

A BOGUS forensic investigator who conned the justice system for more than two decades has been jailed for five years.

All the court cases in which he gave evidence may need to be reviewed.

Gene Morrison, of Martin Street, Hyde, also known as Rocky, was described as a Walter Mitty character who based his entire working life on "a web of lies and deceit".

He was found guilty of 22 offences of deception, perjury and perverting the course of justice.

Morrison, 48, advertised himself under the company name CIB. Clients employed him to undertake forensic and other investigative work on their behalf.

He used various methods to compile reports, including handing work to other legitimate companies before passing it off his own and charging vastly inflated prices.

Over the years he was paid £250,000 of taxpayers' money for giving his apparently expert advice.

He brazenly stood in front of judge and juries up and down the country and lied under oath repeatedly. He signed witness statements declaring he was telling the truth about his qualifications which were entirely fictional.

In fact it was a sham and they were bought from a fictitious university over the Internet.

He left school with no grades but bluffed his way as an 'expert' through hundreds of criminal cases.

Morrison admitted to police he began working as a forensic investigator in 1977 after buying certificates by post for a BSc in Forensic Science, a Masters with excellence in Forensic Investigation and a Doctorate in Criminology.

Despite this, during his trial he insisted on being called Dr Morrison.

Detective Superintendent Martin Bottomley said: "It has become apparent through the trial that Morrison is a prolific liar. He has refused to admit he has told any lies instead calling them "untruths". He has talked in riddles in the hope of clouding the issue and confusing the court. He seems totally unaware how ridiculous his blatant lies have sounded to others."