A retired senior police officer who played a key role in bringing child serial killer nurse Beverley Allitt to justice has made explosive claims about the Lucy Letby case, declaring it likely represents "the greatest miscarriage of justice this century".
Former Detective's Shocking Review
Retired Detective Superintendent Stuart Clifton, who previously served with Lincolnshire Police, has conducted an independent review of the evidence against Lucy Letby. The 36-year-old former nurse is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016.
Mr Clifton told The Sun newspaper: "I am totally satisfied that Lucy Letby is innocent of all charges and that the evidence in relation to the causes of deaths and collapses put forward at trial is incorrect." He added that his review found no evidence that Letby caused deliberate harm to any infants or that they were deliberately harmed by anyone.
Medical Expert Support
Mr Clifton's claims follow similar assertions from medical professionals. Last year, a panel of 14 leading medical experts suggested that poor medical care and natural causes were responsible for the baby deaths rather than criminal acts.
Among those experts was retired medic Dr Shoo Lee, who co-authored a 1989 academic paper on air embolism in babies - evidence that featured prominently during Letby's ten-month trial. In February 2024, Dr Lee stated he was "pretty certain" Letby had not murdered or attempted to murder any babies.
Contrasting Police Approaches
Mr Clifton, who investigated the notorious Beverley Allitt case that resulted in 13 life sentences for murdering four children and attempting to murder nine others, highlighted what he sees as fundamental flaws in the Letby investigation.
"The inquiry in the Letby case seems to have started from the presumption that there were unlawful acts being committed at the neonatal unit at Chester Hospital," he explained. "That's a dangerous presumption to start from. I think what one should do from the start is what we did in the Allitt case."
He elaborated that investigators should first examine available evidence supporting criminal involvement rather than assuming guilt from the outset. Mr Clifton pointed out that from June 2015 to July 2016, numerous reviews by senior paediatricians at the hospital never concluded there was a criminal killing babies.
Questioning the Evidence
The retired detective also challenged the interpretation of evidence presented during Letby's trial. He stated he does not believe that letters written by Letby and Post-it notes discovered at her home constitute a confession, as prosecutors argued.
His comments come after the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed last week that Letby will face no further charges regarding additional baby deaths and collapses investigated by police. Cheshire Constabulary had passed further evidence to prosecutors relating to eight potential attempted murder offences and one murder offence at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Documentary Release Imminent
The controversy surrounding the case continues to grow as a Netflix documentary titled "Of Lucy Letby" prepares to air next week. Produced in cooperation with Cheshire Police, the documentary promises to feature never-before-seen footage of the nurse during her arrest and police questioning.
As legal experts and medical professionals continue to debate the evidence, Mr Clifton's intervention adds significant weight to those questioning whether justice has been properly served in one of Britain's most high-profile criminal cases in recent memory.
