A police watchdog has decided that allegations that a top detective failed to disclose evidence at a fraud trial eight years ago are unproven.

Det Supt Steve Hassall of Greater Manchester Police had been put on restricted duties while an inquiry was carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

In December, the Crown Prosecution Service decided no criminal proceedings would be brought against Mr Hassall.

Now the IPCC has concluded there is no hard evidence to prove the allegations against the officer, who has now returned to normal duties.

It was alleged Mr Hassall submitted a misleading statement and failed to disclose information relating to the credibility of a key prosecution witness at the trial of Patrick Zengeya in July 2001.

At that trial Zengeya was convicted of two counts of attempting to obtain services by deception and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.

The Court of Appeal quashed Mr Zengeya’s conviction on May 6 last year on the basis that there was a failure to disclose evidence at his original trial.

During the original trial, it was alleged that the defendant had arranged for a car to be taken from England to South Africa but then tried to pay the shipping costs with other people's credit cards.

IPCC Commissioner Ms Naseem Malik said: “This was a very difficult investigation.

“The lack of real documentary evidence has led to a reliance on handwritten notes and the recollection of those involved in the case at the time.

No evidence 

“There is simply no hard evidence to support any of the opinions put forward as to what might have happened.”

Ms Malik added: “Frustratingly for all involved in the investigation, the snippets of evidence are not backed up by strong hard facts.

“Discrepancies in accounts and the absence of hard evidence means we cannot substantiate the allegations against Mr Hassall.”

Mr Hassall has 30 years experience in GMP, is highly respected and has several commendations for bravery and professionalism.

Mr Hassall's solicitor, Ian Lewis, of Manchester firm, Lewis Hymanson Small, said he was 'pleased' with the outcome.

He added: “There has never been any evidence of Det Supt Hassall misleading anybody in these proceedings and therefore we now welcome this independent enquiry by the IPCC which has substantiated what he has been saying all along."