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Man Jailed for Biting with Another's Teeth
16 May
Summary
- A man was convicted of biting a policeman using someone else's teeth.
- His conviction was later overturned, leading him to become a barrister.
- His gravestone bears an unusual inscription reflecting his legal battle.
A remarkable epitaph in a Shropshire cemetery reads: "The only man in British legal history to be convicted of biting a policeman with someone else's teeth." This refers to Alistair Mitchell, whose wife Alexandra Preston confirmed the unusual claim. Mitchell was convicted in 1990 during the violent poll tax riots in London.
Mitchell found himself trapped in Whitehall during the disturbances and intervened when he saw police officers restraining a young man. He was subsequently arrested and charged with obstruction and assault, with one charge alleging he had bitten an officer. Mitchell maintained he had no memory of his teeth being near any officer.
His defence team successfully proved that the bite mark did not match Mitchell's teeth, leading to his conviction being overturned years later. This lengthy legal battle, however, inspired Mitchell to pursue a career in law. He trained as a barrister, often representing those he believed were victims of injustice.
Mitchell passed away in 2019 at the age of 61, after being diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer in 2012. His gravestone also features a poem written by his father, Adrian Mitchell, reflecting his father's political and social sentiments. Mitchell's widow described him as warm, witty, clever, generous, and kind.
