Perhaps some lawyer might explain why this case received a trial court made up of a Judge + 2 magistrates. This is not a normal arrangement for trials in Magistrates' Courts. Will this now be the pattern for the future?

Peter Hargreaves, Stockport, Cheshire, England

Here we see an example of one of our surveillance state's most predicted and predictably consistent 'coincidences': That of 'disappeared' video evidence.
It is reportedly alleged in this case, that video evidence from a surveillance camera was lost.
This 'losing' of video evidence by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service is a common occurrence.
A survey conducted in 2003 of Barristers and criminal defence solicitors on the question of 'lost' video evidence from police stations in Leeds, produced the consensus that it was a common occurrence for video evidence to 'go missing' in cases where such evidence was crucial to the defence.
Indeed, in one case two barristers were able to correctly predict, that the police/ CPS would conveniently 'lose' video tapes from two police stations, simultaneously, despite timely requests to preserve and 'not lose' it. The solution is to appoint a responsible, named person answerable to law, for the custody of such evidential data.

Sayat Singh, Harrogate,

Why did this woman not accuse him of indecent exposure on the train. Then there would be some other witnesses who could have come to give evidence too. Why did she follow him and take pictures.

Sonia, heswall, wirral

I bet the magistrates will get a nice promotion out of this one.They all look after each other in their drinking clubs in Pall Mall.If there was no CCTV then why did the CPS decide to prosecute.You cant blame the Police

joseph, hook, uk

What about the two photographs of the man? I don't understand whether the man in the photographs is this judge. The police must have believed he is, otherwise it wouldn't have come to trial.

Is this judge the man in the photographs or not?

Laura Roberts, London, UK

Indeed it is puzzling, why the B Trans Police did not introduce relevant CCTV footage. Is that the standrad practice in relation to charges of this nature? Though it is reported that Sir Richard was suspended pending hearing, it is widely reported that he did deal with applications on paper. What would happen if CCTV footage becomes available, or could the CPS have a right to appeal in a case like this?

Sheila Smith, Dartford, England

They really need to get some CCTV cameras installed at waterloo..

simon, london,

Are we now to learn the name of the accuser? If we are not, and I see no reason why we should, perhaps it would have been fairer if the accused had been entitled to anonymity until found guilty.

Richard, Manchester,

Can we now please name and publish a picture of the woman involved so we be on our guard lest we meet her on the underground and she decides to make more false accusations against innocent people.

Sickening, truly sickening.

Andrew Murrray, London, UK

I am puzzled at to why the woman who made this accusation is not named and why the case was allowed to proceed on such insubstantial evidence?

Alison Buckley, Chislehurst, Kent

shame shame shame

John Douglas, Oxford,

What would the lady have to gain by bringing a false allegation, is what I say? That is equally as valid as "It would make no sense for him to expose himself on the train he takes every day".
Men who do this sort of thing are always ready to take the risk for the gratification they derive.
As an elderly lady I apologise for the following, if it at all vulgar and offensive, but there was an old saying years ago that went..'A standing p**ck has no concience". And this could well be the case.

V.Curtis, Portsmouth, Hants

Till next time

hytron5, Liverpool , uk

Oh what a suprise, another person acquitted of a sex offence.

alex, manchester, uk

Hard to see why the prosecution was made- from newspaper reports it appeared that there was no independent evidence against the judge- just one person's word against another- so no way he could be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. I really wonder why the CPS prosecuted given that their case appeared doomed from the start? It's really quite worrying- any of us can get caught up in such circumstances, and it appears that the transport police here failed to make any investigations- they just arrested the judge- perhaps they might enlighted the public as to why, and also why the CPS let them away with it? The whole handling seems most odd.

Doug, Glasgow,

Justice has been served. A true genitalman walks free, head and zip high and appendage secured. How dare they have accused him!

Dr R Allen, Canterbury, UK

1. Who was defending Lord Justice Richards?

2. The Police failed to collect CCTV evidence?

3. Then they KNEW it wasn't him.

4. This being so, there should have been an application to strike out the case prior to trial.

5. I should know.

6. I recently did this in The Crown Court.

AMS
Solicitor (Non-Practising)

AMS, Bristol, UK

The fact that British transport police did not pursue this diligently means that we will never know. I take my hat off to this young woman for pursuing this. Flashers are a common occurence and she had the temerity to see this one through.

But there you have it -it wasn't proved...just...

K, Brussels,