Two executive chefs working at the Houses of Commons and Lords who were accused of taking kickbacks have been exonerated following an eight-month investigation.
Police arrested David Dorricott and Mark Thatcher on suspicion of fraud and corruption in April last year, after a fish supplier alleged that he had been bribing the chefs to win business at the Palace of Westminster. Last week, after police investigations, the Crown Prosecution Service decided to take no further action.
A CPS spokesman said: "We advised further investigation in December but there was insufficient evidence to charge them, so no further action was taken."
Both Thatcher, who was executive chef at the House of Lords, and Dorricott, who was his counterpart at the Commons, had vehemently denied the allegations from the start.
Thatcher told Caterer: "I feel quite angry the police didn't even carry out a basic investigation before they came charging in to arrest both of us. Because they didn't charge us, they didn't have to tell us what evidence they had, and we were left in no man's land all this time."
Both men were suspended from their positions following the arrests. Thatcher is scheduled to return to work at the House of Lords on 5 April, while Caterer understands that Dorricott is still waiting for a date to be set for his return to work at the House of Commons.
Thatcher admitted that he does not know how the ordeal will have affected their careers. "With this over my head," he said, "people have told me they would never consider employing me. Mud sticks, but it seems amazing that someone can make a complaint and the police don't check it out before they ruin two people's lives and careers."
Thatcher considered taking legal action against the fishmonger but decided against it. "Initially, I felt bitter," he said, "but, rather than let it prey on me, I just want to get on with my life now. It's been a very hard eight months, my family has been through a lot and I just want to move on."
Dorricott was not available for comment.
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 31 March 2005