A FORMER police officer who says he was jailed for a crime he did not commit broke his silence last night.

He spoke after The Northern Echo exclusively revealed yesterday that three serving Cleveland Police officers are to be charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The move follows claims by former traffic police constable Sultan Alam that he was set up for a crime he did not commit.

Mr Alam was jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of conspiracy to steal car parts. He has protested his innocence since he was arrested in 1994.

A four-year police inquiry, named Operation Granite, is ongoing, but police have confirmed that three serving officers and one retired officer will be charged.

Yesterday, father-of-two Mr Alam, 40, whose marriage broke up since the allegations were made against him, said: "It has been an extremely difficult nine years for me.

"However, I think the vast majority of police are decent, hard-working officers. My best friends are police and it is the hard work of the investigating officers from Northumbria Police who have got us this far."

Mr Alam's solicitor, Chris Eyres, who has carried out more than 1,500 hours' work on the case without payment, said he was determined to overturn Mr Alam's conviction.

He said: "I can hardly imagine the stress he has been under all these years.

"It has also affected his children and the loss of the career he has wanted since he was a little boy.

"At last, we may be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"For myself, I have no doubt whatsoever of his innocence."

Mr Alam, who lives in the Middlesbrough area, is working as a taxi driver. At the time of his arrest, he was studying for his exams to become a sergeant.

Police yesterday declined to reveal how much the investigation has cost, and repeated an earlier statement which revealed that 12 police serving and former officers had been investigated, with four being prosecuted.

The Crown Prosecution Service has dismissed the complaints against eight officers.