Nightmare of false rape claim

March 05, 2009

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A MAN who was falsely accused of rape by a woman he met on a night out celebrating his birthday has spoken of his ordeal.

The innocent man spent 24 hours in a police cell after 21-year-old Lauren Chaffey told detectives he had sexually assaulted her.

But Chaffey, of Huddersfield Road, Rochdale, was exposed as a liar by text messages found on her mobile phone suggesting the couple had consensual sex. She was jailed for five months after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Her 24-year-old victim, who asked not to be named, told the MEN he feared his life would be destroyed by the false accusations and words could not describe his feelings towards Chaffey.

Crazy

"I still don't know why she did it. It's a nasty crime. People who have been assaulted find it difficult to report and making up something like that is just crazy.

"I thought she had destroyed my life but getting through this has made me a better person and I'm happy in my life now. "She got what she deserved and I hope she learns from this that she shouldn't tell such horrible lies."

The man said he was 'blind drunk' while celebrating his 24th birthday in a Rochdale club where he met Chaffey. The following day he was sent a text message telling him he was being accused of rape.

He described being arrested as a complete shock. He said: "I've never been in trouble with the police before and it was a horrible experience which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. "I just kept thinking what would my parents and friends think.

"I knew I had done nothing wrong but I worried it was my word against hers. I'm a truthful person and I thought if I told the truth I would be OK.

"When the police told me I wouldn't be charged I didn't celebrate, it was a relief because I knew all along I'd done nothing wrong.

"I'd like to thank all the people and my family who have stuck by me and supported me throughout this."

Uncomfortable

He said before the allegation he was a happy-go-lucky young man who worked hard. Now he says he's uncomfortable in female company and has lost confidence.

Bolton Crown Court heard Chaffey was out with two female friends when she met the man in a nightclub. She later claimed that she had been raped after she and the man were dropped off in a taxi near her home.

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

She was jailed for five months at Bolton Crown Court.

Despicable

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 serious 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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Barney Gumball LLB Hons (05/03/2009 at 12:34)

Only five months...? I'd have jailed her for at least ten years!

Kris-Kross, Ashton Under Lyne (05/03/2009 at 14:18)

I hope the young man is able to get on with his life and I have every sympathy with him!

Well done to the police on this occasion. True detective work on their part.

To the woman in question: Your actions were so dire you are indeed lucky to have got off with a light sentence. It was cruelty for no reason.

Bean of the yard, stalybridge (05/03/2009 at 14:57)

She has clearly no idea to the level of misery caused, nor has she helped the cause of genuine rape victims. Shame on her.

JTC Formerley JimC (05/03/2009 at 15:45)

The question has to be asked if the police had believe her and it went to trial, he got found guilty, how much time would he have got a lot more than 5 months i,ll bet.

She should have got a sentence befitting a rapist.

Knowledge Poverty, a dark future (05/03/2009 at 16:38)

Agree with Barney Gumball.

This kind of false accusation is on the rise (ladies - yes it is).

Penalty for this offence should be 10 years, no early release.

andanotherthing, Mcr (05/03/2009 at 16:43)

has anyone noticed the absence of female comments on both of these stories? Curious.

waywardweastie (05/03/2009 at 16:55)

andanotherthing, that's exactly the point,because of the actions of this woman a lot of women will think twice about reporting a real rape or assault,and that's just dead wrong.

bluesoapopera, Blackley Manchester (05/03/2009 at 17:08)

Five Months is nothing for what this person did. I had a similar accusation against me made, mine actually went to court for which I was cleared. I had never been in trouble before and was in tears when I was told what I was accused of by an evil lying woman for whom I had a consensual kiss. 3 months after this I was arrested on the charge of indecent assault. Having never been in trouble before being locked up in a cell and treated like a criminal will stay with me forever. I was not as lucky as this person in the fact that I did have to go to court with jury to clear my name. The whole process took 9 months. The fact that I was rightly cleared doesnt help me..the fact that I was accused in the first place and went through what I did is enough, to watch someone blantently lie on oath in court...well I saw her on a TV screen as she was supposedly too afraid to face me is something I still have not got over after 5 years and have suffered from depression since. I guess all she was after was attention and sypathy for which Im sure she got, but my life was destroyed.

andanotherthing, Mcr (05/03/2009 at 17:12)

Waywardweastie

That is not the point I was making. refer to my comment " she should be visited every day" The women that post here have oppinions that usually are the same as the men. This report has not even raised a comment from local_Lass. Usually a voice of reason.

Still curious.

andanotherthing, Mcr (05/03/2009 at 18:27)

See, still no comment. Are they all waiting for the subliminal comment from Local_Lass. ( Sorry to use you Local) Until women accept they are as capable as men for all the violence , crime and corruption of what ever nature we will not progress.

This Man was Raped of his good name. That is why there is no comment.

Pippa, Manchester (05/03/2009 at 20:15)

Five months is nowhere near enough. It is time people who are charged with sexual offences are afforded the same right of anonymity as the victims.

gor, mcr (06/03/2009 at 10:26)

Its a disgrace that women do this and its just attention seeking. I have had someone tell me a similar story about a member of my family and I almost believed them until I did some research of my own into their character.. there was no reason for it at all either it was just a way to get pity and the person accused was very upset. Luckily it didnt go as far as court but it could have had massive implications if it had.

( Oh and I am a woman)

SDS (06/03/2009 at 11:03)

My son was interviewed by the police due to a claim made by a drunken married women who had spent almost the entire evening throwing her self at my son and his friends, she eventually got her wish and that was to have sex with a much younger man, hasten to add not my son, she apparently couldnt remember who supposedly raped her due to the fact she was massively drunk. My son obviously was very very worried, he did not need to be as her evening antics and her suggesive comments to almost every male within distance were by many well and truely witnessed. the case was dropped very quickly but i did consider suing her.Rape is a very serious offence, however women who get plastered and dress with almost eveything on show should not be taken seriously. Decent women dress appropriately and act accordingly as good men do, if you act like a barbarian then you can expected to be treated as one, these type of women know exactly what they are doing, and later if hubby finds out, or they feel a touch of guilt due to there awful behaviour they have the get out card, I was raped, saves embarrasment to themselves,friends and family and of course they may even get smypathy.

Helen56, WORSLEY (06/03/2009 at 12:30)

I feel for the guy, I hope he gets his life back on top.She definitely deserves more than a few months. Remember the old saying - what goes around comes around - she'll get her come-uppance.

andanotherthing, Mcr (06/03/2009 at 16:31)

Well done Sisters,

You certainly told her and no mistake.

donald duck (07/03/2009 at 17:25)

What no suspended sentences!

Pippa, Manchester (07/03/2009 at 19:04)

It was hard work anotherthing, it was fourth comment that managed to get past mr x.

Frequent Flyer, Altrincham (07/03/2009 at 23:32)

THE SENTENCE IF THE ALLEGED OFFENDER WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY - SHOULD BE THE STATUTORY SENTENCE FOR THE PERSON MAKING THE FALSE ALLEGATION OF RAPE.
HOW MANY UNFOUNDED CLAIMS OF RAPE - RUIN FAMILIES AND PEOPLES LIVES.
I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT IN THIS CASE THE VICTIM HAS NOT BEEN NAMED.
IN MOST CASES THE ALLEGED OFFENGER IS NAMED - WHILST THE ALLEGED VICTIM REMAINS ANNONYMOUS.
ALL PARTIES SHOULD REMAIN ANNONYMOUS - IF THE CASE IS PROVEN - THEN NAME THE OFFENDER - IF FALSE ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE - NAME THE 'ALLEGED' VICTIM -AND BE SURE TO PASS THE SAME SENTENCE THE ALLEGED OFFENDER WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IF FOUND GUILTY OF THE CRIME THEY DID NOT COMMIT.
RAPE IS A WICKED CRIME - AND JUST AS WICKED AS THE FALSE REPORT OF RAPE.

Deejay, Bury (08/03/2009 at 13:04)

Finally justice is served. It's a disgrace that these people are allowed to make such accusations. I really feel for the victim in all this - the one who was falsely accused. Sadly the system is stacked against them. You only need to look at www.justice4kj.com for an example of this.

Nigel (03/04/2010 at 12:13)

Yet another time this has happened but not all these cases are as clean cut as this. My brother is fighting for his life at the moment as a result of being accused of this. He is depending on the CCRC to put his case forward to appeal but we are not sure they will even though the forensic evidence shows that the girl in question lied and as this is not the first time he has been accused and jailed it makes it more difficult to sort out. Even the papers are reluctant to run a story regarding it but then there is only so much truth gets to print, believe me as I have been trying but to no avail nevertheless I am glad to see at least there is some justice for an innocent man.

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