Kent News - Teenager escapes jail after making up rape claim

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Teenager escapes jail after making up rape claim

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Maidstone Magistrates Court

A 16-year-old girl has been handed a 12 month referral order including counselling sessions after falsely accusing a man of raping her, Yourmaidstone reports.

Maidstone magistrates heard the teenager had claimed a 19-year-old youth had dragged her into his home and raped her.

But she concocted the story after having consensual sex with the man she accused, as she had a boyfriend.

The girl, who cannot be named due to her age, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by making false allegations of rape at the hearing in Maidstone today (Monday).

The chair of the bench told her she was only escaping jail because of her age.

Police said this is one of a number of recent similar cases in Maidstone – and they want to make sure such incidents stop.

Following the hearing this morning Detective Inspector Susie Harper said: "Rape is a very serious offence which can have a huge impact on the life of the victim.

"It often takes considerable bravery for a rape victim to come forward to report the crime and we always sensitively and thoroughly investigate all reported rape allegations.

"On rare occasions where false rape allegations are made, it wastes not only the police's time, but causes untold grief for the accused, having the potential to ruin their reputation forever.

"In these instances we will seek to prosecute those who make false claims, as these people undermine the courage of real victims who seek justice.”

POSTED: 01/09/2008 16:39:21

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ADD YOUR COMMENT

Comments:

Added: Wednesday 03/09/2008 12:43:18 UK

Incidentally, reliable data show that false rape claims are not "rare", rather they are an epidemic.

The name of the accused man is made public, which inevitably means that his reputation is tarnished instantly, whereas his accuser can remain anonymous even if the allegation is found to be false.

The only way to put an end to the malicious allegations is to treat them on par with the crime that has been alleged. False allegations destroy the entire life of the accused.

Eva, Ottawa, Canada

Added: Tuesday 02/09/2008 09:54:43 UK

Rare false rape claims? Until these awful liars go to jail, false rape claims won't stop!!

bill Blix, Kent, Kent