to not attend this audition for a quiz show?

[Bogeyface]

Applied in a moment of "oh what the hell", and spoke to the casting person today. Flew through the quiz questions, think I came across well and then she offered me an audition.

There are 2 issues. One is that now I stop and think about it, I am not sure I want to be on TV! I love quiz shows and would love to be on this particular one, but the idea of being on TV scares the hell out of me!

The second is more serious. There is a disclosure form that I must fill in, and it asks about any criminal records etc. When I was 19 and in a houseshare one of the housemates took a violent dislike to me (he did in fact attack me after the event I am about to tell you about). He forged my signature on one of his giros and then told the police I had cashed it (this was when you could cash someone elses giro for them if you too ID). They arrested me at 11pm and took me in. I was absolutely terrified. They were very faux nice, they acted like they understood but put pressure on me to say I did it so I could go home. They actually told me that. So I did. I was given a caution and that was that. This was 22 years ago. Yes I do know now that what happened was wrong, that I should have been offered a lawyer (I wasnt) that I should have been told I didnt have to accept the caution (I wasnt) and that I shouldnt have been told to admit to a crime I didnt commit in order to leave or be threatened with anight in the cells if I didnt admit to it. I was young and extremely scared.

H was really pleased for me that I got the audition, he has long been encouraging me to apply for something like this. But he doesnt know about the caution, no one does apart from the housemate who accused me and my then boyfriend. When the housemate attacked me I called the police and he said I had attacked him. I was in a right state, torn clothes, bloody face, black eye. He had a mark on his face where I had smacked him trying to get him off me and they said that as he had an injury they would have arrest both of us, so he got away with that too. :(

I dont want to go to the audition and put myself through the fear and nerves only to be told they dont want me! Also, the form says "have you ever been arrested or cautioned, give details" and then in the next line says "Details any convictions, cautions blah blah (any convictions that are spent under the rehabilitation of offenders are need not be disclosed). Cautions are spent immediately from what I found online, so I dont know what to put!

That sounds awful and very unfair. If cautions are spent imediately then why do you have to declare them? Are you worried that wont be the case and it will come to light to your DH? I feel for you, that must be upsetting.

I think you have to declare them so they can avoid things like "X FACTOR CONTESTANT ACCUSED OF MURDER" or something! There was something like that recently, cant remember the details.

It is upsetting because I didnt do anything wrong, I was accused and was so scared that I admitted to something I didnt do because the police bullied me. He attacked me because he wanted me taken to court and my life ruined, when that didnt happen he told the police he wanted to "press charges" and they said that he already had, they had cautioned me, all done and dusted. He put the phone down and went fucking insane :(

Tv show aside please be honest with your husband- you have not done anything wrong you poor thing you don't need to carry that around with you- you were the victim x

Bless you that sounds horrific. I'm sorry you had such shitty treatment and advice.

I think I wouldn't put it. They're not going to DBS check you are they? And it is spent, so you can't be criticised for not declaring it.

You shouldn't be ashamed of it though. You didn't do anything wrong.

You don't have to declare spent convictions unless you need an enhanced DBS check, which can only be required if you have access to vulnerable persons.

shit that's awful. ccan you seek redress now or would you like to just leave it in the past?

I suppose the thing I am worried about is if ex housemate (who still lives locally and still hates me if the filthy looks I get are anything to go by) decides to tell people (or the press) about it.

Very unlikely, total non story I would imagine, but it worries me. I suppose I would rather declare it as they say that if you dont they can take away any money you win.

As for redress, I doubt I could after all this time, and tbh I just want to forget about it.

I think I will just cancel the audition.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. It's hardly the crime of the century and I don't think they would worry about it. You might be best telling them though to save any embarrassment. The worst that will happen is you get turned down. If you do well and the prat goes to the papers you can either ignore it or put your story forward, however be careful as papers twist stories. Most likely they'll think it's a none story. You can't let this prick ruin this opportunity or he's won. Stop giving him power over your life.

It won't even be on your record now! Seriously...go for the audition..don't declare it. You're not going on Big Brother ffs....overnight fame does not await you.

I had a caution about the same length of time ago and it's not on the Police National Computer so doesn't show up, I guess when they computerised things it just wasn't worth bothering about.

overnight fame does not await you. I really hope it doesnt, I dont want fame, overnight or otherwise :o

So if I do go for it what do I put on the form though? I cant even remember what I was charged with, theft possibly? Or fraud? I cant remember!

waiting how did you find out that it wasnt on there?

I had an enhanced CRB check for a volunteer role working with young people. Told the agency then nothing came back on the form. Seem to remember someone saying it wasn't computerised or held centrally and lots of minor things they just didn't bother with. I wouldn't put anything I don't think if I were you, it's highly unlikely anyone will find out.