Winston Trew has just been arrested for mugging. It's 1972 and the crime has recently made its way to Britain from the United States. Dangerous thugs, replicating their American counterparts, have made the city of London their hunting ground - so Winston's eventual conviction is a win for the police, and for the press.

The problem is, 22-year-old Winston is completely innocent.

Do you have a question for Tim Harford and Rachel Botsman about trust? Please send it in to tales@pushkin.fm.

For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.