A NAVY veteran serving a prison sentence for sex attacks on a little boy must wait to learn the outcome of the Court of Appeal battle to clear his name.
Michael Thomas Hilton, 43, was jailed for 15 years at Derby Crown Court in September last year for rape, sexual activity with a child and having indecent images of children.
The former nuclear submarine sonar operator denies the offences and has taken his case to the Court of Appeal, in London, in a bid to overturn the convictions.
But, after hearing arguments yesterday, three senior judges decided to reserve their decision on the case until a later date – which may be in the New Year.
Hilton, formerly of Glen Road, Matlock, appeared in the dock in a blue-denim jacket and t-shirt, as his barrister, Jonathan Goldberg QC, launched his appeal.
He said "This man had a defence but it was not vigorously placed before the jury. He has not really had a fair crack of the whip in this trial."
The court was told that Hilton's convictions were based on complaints made by a little boy, who was interviewed in front of video cameras by police.
But Mr Goldberg criticised the way that the victim interviewing process – known as an Achieving Best Evidence procedure – was undertaken in the case.
He said the boy was praised at the end of the interview, which might have made him think he was being a "good boy" by making the complaints.
The court was told Hilton, who is also challenging the length of his sentence, was viciously assaulted within a week of going into prison.
Mr Goldberg said: "He still bears physical scars and neurological damage to this day. The three men responsible were convicted of wounding."
Lord Justice Pitchford, who heard the appeal with Mrs Justice Dobbs and Judge Francis Gilbert QC, said "important" issues had been raised. He said: "We are going to reserve our judgment about this case. We will take time to consider all the arguments."
Hilton, whose partner has stood by him, mouthed "I love you" at the public gallery as he was led away at the end of the hearing.
