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Stuff
November 8, 2003
False rape complaint ends in donation to victim support
NZPA
A 32-year-old American woman claimed she had been
abducted and raped after having consensual sex with a man she met in a bar,
Dunedin District Court was told yesterday.
The woman, who was granted final name suppression on medical grounds admitted
making a false complaint to police.
Prosecutor Sergeant Tom Scouller said the woman, studying in New Zealand for a few months, met a man in a Dunedin bar on October
17.
She agreed to go with him in his car to another bar but decided to drive to
the outskirts of the city instead and consensual sex took place.
Later that night, the woman went to Dunedin Central police station and
reported she had been abducted and raped.
She said that while sightseeing at the harbour basin a man, who claimed he
had a gun, forced her into a vehicle.
She was blindfolded, then driven to an unknown location where she was
sexually violated.
The woman later admitted she had lied.
By then 11 police had put about 50 hours work into the investigation, Mr
Scouller said.
Judge Stephen O'Driscoll said the large response to the woman's claim showed
how seriously police took such allegations.
Their time and effort spent "on wild goose chases looking for
non-existent offenders" could otherwise have been used to deal with
genuine matters.
The judge said there was a need to deter people from making such claims.
He refused a defence application for a discharge without conviction.
But he waived a fine after the woman said she would donate $500 to Victim
Support.
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