Is I Fought the Law based on a true story?

ITV's gripping new drama, I Fought the Law, recounts the true tale of a mother's relentless pursuit for justice following her daughter's brutal murder.

The four-part series, set to premiere on 31 August, tells the story of Ann Ming, a mother-of-three from Billingham, County Durham, who battled for 15 years to see her daughter Julie's killer brought to justice after he was initially acquitted.

Ann, played by Sheridan Smith in the ITV drama, bravely campaigned to have the double jeopardy law overturned in honour of her late daughter. The series is based on Ann's factual book, For the Love of Julie.

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Here's the full true story behind I Fought the Law....

What is the real story behind ITV's I Fought the Law?

I Fought the Law narrates the story of Ann Ming, a mother who endured the disappearance of her daughter in Billingham, Cleveland in 1989, reports Chronicle Live.

Julie Hogg, aged 22, was a mother to three year old son Kevin and wife to husband Andrew. She vanished after working a late shift at a local pizza parlour.

Heartbreakingly, Ann found Julie's body hidden in the bathroom of her home in January 1990. 80 days earlier, the murderer had concealed Julie's body behind the bath panel.

Despite extensive searches by police forensics teams after Julie's disappearance, they failed to locate Julie's body.

Ann, unhappy with the Cleveland Constabulary's investigation, took it upon herself to challenge senior officers in a bid to uncover the truth about her daughter Julie's murder and bring the culprit to justice.

William Dunlop was twice put on trial for Julie's murder, each time denying his guilt. On both occasions, the jury failed to reach a verdict, leading to his formal acquittal and release.

In 1999, while serving a seven-year sentence for violent offences, Dunlop confessed to a prison officer that he had murdered Julie. At the time, due to the double jeopardy rule, he could not be retried for the murder following his acquittal.

However, he was charged with two counts of perjury and handed a six-year prison sentence.

Ann spearheaded a campaign to overturn the double jeopardy law, which proved successful. This allowed the Court of Appeal to order a retrial of Dunlop for Julie's murder.

In 2006, Dunlop pleaded guilty to Julie's murder and received a life sentence, with a minimum term of 17 years.

What has Ann Ming said about the ITV series?

Ann, who also serves as a consultant on I Fought the Law, expressed her support for the ITV series and shared her delight that actress Sheridan would be portraying her, stating she was "overwhelmed".

"I am very pleased that Hera Pictures will tell the story of my campaign to overturn the Double Jeopardy Law. My daughter's killer was wrongfully acquitted, and a number of years later confessed to her murder, for which he could only be prosecuted for perjury due to the 800-year-old Double Jeopardy Law. I wasn't going to let this stand in my way of getting justice for Julie.

"I'm overwhelmed that Sheridan Smith will be playing me. Having such an iconic and talented actor portray me is truly wonderful," Ann expressed.

On the other hand, actress Sheridan shared her excitement about being "honoured" to play Ann in the ITV drama.

Before its release, Sheridan stated: "I am so honoured to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the Double Jeopardy Law to be changed. She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude."

I Fought the Law airs on Sunday, 31 August on ITV1 at 9pm.