In 2013, a 20-year-old woman from Wirral was sentenced to more than two years’ imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court after inventing an allegation that she had been raped at knifepoint.
Shinaed Kelly, residing at Green Lane, Birkenhead, appeared before the court for sentence after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.
Prosecutor Martin Decker outlined that on 24 September 2012, Kelly was on her second night working as a prostitute in Liverpool city centre. While on Devon Street, Kelly approached an on-duty police officer to complain about a man who was allegedly behaving strangely in the vicinity. The officer intervened, spoke with the individual, and directed him to leave the area.
Later that same night, Kelly made a formal emergency report to police claiming she had been subjected to a violent sexual offence. Kelly told investigators that the man had returned, brandished an eight-inch kitchen knife, held the blade directly against her throat, and raped her.
Acting on the grave allegations, Merseyside Police arrested the named man and detained him in custody for 19 hours while forensic and investigative enquiries were conducted.
Detectives subsequently secured and scrutinised public CCTV footage covering the exact location where Kelly alleged the assault took place. The footage contradicted her claims and demonstrated that the reported attack had not occurred. Six days after lodging the allegation, Kelly admitted to detectives that the story was completely false.
In mitigation, defence barrister Jeff Clarke highlighted Kelly’s immaturity and vulnerability at the time of the offence.
Passing sentence, the Crown Court judge addressed the serious consequences of making false allegations of grave sexual violence that lead to innocent individuals being arrested and incarcerated, handing Kelly an immediate custodial sentence of more than two years’ imprisonment.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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