Cop's 'rape' was made up

Cop's 'rape' was made up

Apr 6 2004

South London Press

A POLICE officer falsely claimed she was raped by a black youth because she was upset over the end of a relationship.

Sarah Hunter, 22, said she was attacked by a gang after a night out with friends. Colleagues launched a "painstaking" investigation to track down the alleged rapist, Inner London Crown Court heard on Friday.

Hunter's ex-boyfriend was even treated as a suspect.

But her story fell apart four days after she made the allegations - when another police officer said he had been with her at the time of the rape claim.

Tudor Owen, prosecuting, said: "The alleged incident happened on the weekend of July 26 and 27 last year.

"She spoke with a fellow police officer and told him that she had been assaulted while walking home alone at night. She had had a relationship with a police officer which at that time he wanted to end.

But she did not want it to end. He asked her if she wanted to report the assault and she said no.

"But as the conversation went on, she said that more had happened than simply the assault. She said she was approached by a group of four black males.

"One said he knew she was a copper and hit her.

"But then she began crying and said she had also been raped by one in the presence of the others."

The officer persuaded her to make a complaint.

CID officers sealed off the alleged crime scene in Kennington and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Hunter even took officers to the park where she claimed the rape had taken place. Her former boyfriend then told detectives she had threatened to accuse him of rape if he ended their relationship.

"Even at this stage there was no recognition that the allegations she had made against the black youths were false," added Mr Owen.

Hunter later admitted she had made up the story. She has since left the police.

Judge Jonathan Van der Werff told her: "This false allegation was extremely foolish and seriously criminal.

"It is a terrible and dreadfully irresponsible thing for a woman to make a false allegation she has been raped."

Hunter, of Meadow Field Drive, Eaglescliff, Stockton-on-Tees, near Middlesbrough, was given a two-year community rehabilitation order after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Speaking after the sentence, Lambeth police borough commander Dick Quinn said: "It is clearly unacceptable for anyone to make a false allegation under any circumstances.

"As with all rape allegations, Lambeth police investigated with the utmost professionalism and care. Once it was established the allegation was false, the decision to prosecute was made without hesitation."

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