And so I do not have a criminal record. But what was most shocking at the time was thethings my release from the charge so clearly depended on. I had the “right” accent, respectablemiddle-class parents in court, reliable witnesses, and I could obviously afford a very goodsolicitor. Given the obscure nature of the charge, I feel sure that if I had come from adifferent background, and had really been unemployed, there is every chancethat I would have been found guilty. While asking for costs to beawarded, my solicitor’s case quite obviously revolved aroundthe fact that I had a “brilliant academic record”.