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Allegations
of Sexual Abuse in NZ |
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A woman who has admitted making a
false rape complaint that infuriated police has three previous convictions
for making false statements. Cathy Joy Blackmore, 26, cleaner,
from Wairakei, was refused name suppression when she pleaded guilty in Taupo
District Court yesterday. Police received a phone call at 4.40am
last Monday from Blackmore and later found her lying face down on the beach,
partly in the water. She appeared unconscious and had some of her clothing
ripped. She was taken to hospital. She gave police an account of
being attacked and sexually violated by an unknown man, acting Detective
Sergeant Andy Allan said. Police investigated the claims for
a day and found them inconsistent. Blackmore admitted later in the
day that they were false, he said. She admitted that the claims were a hoax and
that she had made it appear that she was sexually attacked. "She had even gone to the
extent of creating drag marks in the sand and ripping her own clothing,"
Mr Allan said. Police charged Blackmore with
making a false statement to police. Mr Allan said she had three
previous convictions for making false statements to police, in January and
August 1997. "She had an unbelievably
elaborate story once, when she said she was tied up by intruders." Mr Allan said he had kicked
himself for not remembering the previous convictions earlier, as it would
have saved his team a lot of time. "We were absolutely
infuriated by this. I had staff called out at 5am and the Taupo CIB had to
drop all other investigations to concentrate on this for a day, only to find
it was made up," he said. "She created absolute chaos
for everyone involved." A local photographer had to be
employed for scene photographs and the police doctor had cancelled all
appointments for an afternoon to examine Blackmore. Blackmore's lawyer, Mark Kirkeby,
tried to have her name and all details of previous convictions suppressed in
court yesterday. He said Blackmore admitted she
needed help but had been let down by a lack of supervision with counselling
after her previous convictions. He said she did not want to reoffend. Judge Chris McGuire denied
suppression. He said Blackmore's earlier offending was bizarre and may have
been brought about by a domestic crisis. Publication of the charges would
alert police if Blackmore did it again. He remanded Blackmore on bail for
sentencing on March 22 and ordered a pre- sentencing report and psychological
assessment. |
