Woman, 18, avoids jail for falsely claiming she had been raped by stranger after row with boyfriend
A WOMAN has avoided jail after falsely claiming she had been raped by a stranger following a row with her boyfriend.
Lauren Skinner, 18, admitted to making up the sexual assault story and wasting police time in Swindon, Wiltshire.
The 18-year-old said she had been raped by a stranger after a night out and continued to lie to detectives when she was interviewed.
She made the allegation after having an argument with her boyfriend – which resulted in her being left alone to walk home on July 11 last year.
Magistrates heard that Skinner also lied to cops the following day and even participated in medical procedures to help the police locate the man she accused.
Police spent more than £2,000 investigating the complaint, including cordoning off a path and trawling through CCTV.
A spokesman from Wiltshire police said today: “Lauren Skinner made the false claim following an argument with her boyfriend during a night out.
“He left her alone on a path just off the subway underpass under Drakes Way in Swindon, where she later claimed she had been accosted by a stranger who raped her.
FAKE RAPE CLAIM
“Her boyfriend called the police when she returned home to tell him and Skinner continued to lie to the attending officers and to detectives who spoke to her the following day as well as undergoing a forensic medical examination.
“However, CCTV evidence from the scene proved that she had fabricated the attack.
“Skinner was arrested for perverting the course of justice and when interviewed she admitted making up the rape claim.”
Skinner was charged for wasting police time and received a community order for a year with 100 hours unpaid work, a victim surcharge of £95 and costs of £40 when she appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.
Detective constable Chris Hughes said: “This woman has shown little regard for the level of upset she has caused to others.
Most read in UK News
“Her behaviour could really have a negative impact on other victims of rape or sexual assault who may choose not to report it to police for fear that they will not be believed.
“I would like to reassure victims of sexual assault that we take all reports extremely seriously and would encourage anyone who has been a victim, regardless of how much time has passed since the offence, to come forward and report it to police on 101.”