The actor and trade union activist said a documentary fronted by the broadcaster was government propaganda that swayed a jury that convicted him for offences linked to the 1972 builders’ strike. Ricky told the Chester Chronicle he has leaked classified documents showing late prime minister Sir Edward Heath and Labour MP Woodrow Wyatt were involved in a conspiracy to jail a group of striking workers, known as the Shrewsbury 24. However, a campaigner who has spent a decade investigating the prosecutions said they had found no evidence to suggest Richard was connected to the security services “in any way”.