Woman jailed over false rape claim

March 04, 2009

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A WOMAN whose false claims of rape were exposed by text messages on her mobile phone has been jailed for five months.

Lauren Chaffey, 21, told police she had been raped by a stranger she met on a night out with two female friends.

She claimed the man attacked her after they got out of a taxi near her home in Huddersfield Road, Rochdale.

The innocent man she accused of rape spent 24 hours in a police cell while officers investigated her claims. But officers were suspicious and examined mobile phones belonging to Chaffey, her two friends and her alleged attacker.

They found that Chaffey had discussed having consensual sex with the man in text messages with one of her friends.

She also had a text conversation with her alleged rapist, despite telling detectives she had had no contact with him after the alleged assault.

Chaffey admitted perverting the course of justice at Bolton Crown Court and was sentenced to five months.

Det Con Janice Cruttwell, of Rochdale CID, said: "Lauren Chaffey has not only wasted police time, but also caused a great deal of trouble for a completely innocent man.

"The man she accused of raping her was arrested and kept in police custody. He now feels he has been stigmatised as a rapist despite being completely innocent.

"Rape is an incredibly seriously crime that can ruin the lives of genuine victims and their families. For somebody to make up a story and falsely claim they have been raped is despicable and completely undermines those people whose lives have been devastated by genuine crimes of this nature.

"I am glad that justice has been done. "I would like to reassure genuine victims of crime that we take all reports of rape extremely seriously and each and every case will be dealt with in a sensitive manner by specially trained police officers.

"However, I would also like to take this opportunity to point out to anyone who believes that they can waste police time and resources by making a false report of crime, that we can and will take action against them."

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Esso Blue & Blue Firework The Arabian Blue Knight, , Never trust the human equivalent of a meerkat. Barred from all Meerkat den's (04/03/2009 at 15:50)

That is cruel to do what she has done. This is what I would do, I would take a small digital recorder out with me then you can switch it on and then you have your evidence. Or get a mobile phone that records.

lizard (04/03/2009 at 16:30)

"The man she accused of raping her was arrested and kept in police custody. He now feels he has been stigmatised as a rapist despite being completely innocent", & "Rape is an incredibly seriously crime that can ruin the lives of genuine victims and their families. For somebody to make up a story and falsely claim they have been raped is despicable and completely undermines those people whose lives have been devastated by genuine crimes of this nature.", Two very good reasons for a substantial prison sentence which would ruin her life and stigmatise her.

Red Devil84, Eccles (04/03/2009 at 16:41)

Women like this make my blood boil - what an insult to the real victims of rape. It's no wonder the crime of rape is not treated as seriously as it should be - false accusations do not help the cause. I wonder how long she will last when confronted by someone in prison who has suffered this. if I was the judge she would have been banged up a lot longer. Stupid little girl. I hope the man she accused can move on and rebuild his life.

andanotherthing, Mcr (04/03/2009 at 17:02)

She should be visited every day of her sentence by genuine victims of rape.

Bean of the yard, stalybridge (04/03/2009 at 18:50)

Unbelievable! how on earth could someone put an innocent person through such an ordeal. If anybody knows this silly lttle girl personally i hope you have put her straight.If the poor bloke is reading this then may i offer my best wihes & hope he gets his life back on track.

heptarchy, aha (04/03/2009 at 19:26)

justice for men at long last !!!!!!

andanotherthing, Mcr (04/03/2009 at 19:56)

Heptarchy...

Not exactly is it. Had he been found guilty, he would have served longer.
It's not even justice for women. Most of whom are probably disgusted by the stupidity this woman. what a thing to do.!

kendomat, Salford (04/03/2009 at 20:06)

Life for rape - 5 months for lieing about being raped.

Not exactly justice is it... Both for men and for women who are actually raped.

Had this woman been believed this man would have had his life ruined (if not already).

And this is the type of story that makes women who are raped not come forward as they think they will be tared with the same brush.

I think this woman should have been given years not months ( sorry a few days after the 1/2 sentance plus days knocked off for being good)

FButcher, Mcr (04/03/2009 at 21:04)

A sorry tale, indicative of the culture that we live in

Pippa, Manchester (04/03/2009 at 21:24)

andanotherthing , as one of those women, disgust is the least offensive thing a could say about how this woman makes me feel. It is time to grant anonymity to those accused of rape and other sexual crimes , the victims of which automatically have the right to anonymity. The law of the land says innocent until proven guilty and as it stands at the moment this means that men are villified as soon as their names are published. No I'm not saying that most men accused of rape and other sexual crimes are innocent, just that some are, and as we all know, mud sticks much more strongly in the minds of the community when it is connected with sex despite what evidence may prove. Five months in this case simply isn't adqeuate, but that seems to be the norm nowadays.

Mr Milnrow (08/03/2009 at 19:40)

Bean of the yard, stalybridge - sadly there are people in this village who know her personally. It is a disgrace what she did to the bloke (I won't name him out of respect).

Hope he can now rebuild his life, without the stigma of what this stupid immature (presumably drunk) girl did - I value my freedom greatly and I cannot imagine being locked up knowing I was 100% innocent.

Sadly, because of her conviction, Chaffey isn't going to be a productive member of society. Who will employ someone with her record? Perverting the course of justice proves she is a liar - which means another drain on society and the taxpayer.

andanotherthing, Mcr (08/03/2009 at 22:39)

Pippa.

No matter the crime...Innocent until PROVEN guilty, Your rider " I am not saying all men are" sums up women's attitude on this subject. For that matter on most crime commited by women. You are all to nice to do it, and far to nice to be in prison.

Pippa, Manchester (09/03/2009 at 12:47)

Andanotherthing, no women are not "too nice to do it" nor are athey "too nice to be in prison". Rape accusations are very serious, and I would stand my by rider. The majority of women would not cry rape. As the majority of men wouldn't commit rape. Again I would say, anonymity be granted to both the accused and the victim until the courts have made their decision. Fair nuff ?

andanotherthing, Mcr (09/03/2009 at 13:03)

Pippa.

Fair nuff. I was just being stroppy.

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