After a five-week trial at the Old Bailey, all four were convicted and jailed for two years in November 1972. Last year, after another case involving the corrupt officer who led the operation that resulted in a conviction being overturned last year, one of the “Oval Four” applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The appeal court judge, Lord Justice James, told them that he hoped they appreciated the “gravity” of their offences and would not see the small reduction of their sentences as a “sign of weakness”. Adam Bell, a case worker for the CCRC, investigated the case and it was referred to the court of appeal. The more the merrier.”The CCRC said it had been a complex case to investigate.

Source: The Guardian October 13, 2019 17:20 UTC