A woman in the United Kingdom, Stacey Sharples, who falsely accused 10 men she met through online dating platforms of rape, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
Stacey Sharples, 31, admitted fabricating the allegations against the men, many of whom were arrested and spent time in police custody while investigations were carried out.
Sharples pleaded guilty to 10 counts of perverting the course of justice at Bolton Crown Court and was subsequently jailed.
Authorities said none of the men she accused were ever charged, but the investigations triggered by the allegations are estimated to have cost taxpayers about £120,000 in police and legal resources.
The case was investigated by Greater Manchester Police, which said the decision to prosecute Sharples was made after evidence repeatedly showed that her claims were untrue.
Detective Sergeant Steven Gilliland said officers took the allegations seriously and followed all investigative procedures before concluding the reports were false.
“No officer goes into a rape investigation intending to pursue the person making the report,” Gilliland said, adding that police also wanted to ensure genuine victims would not be discouraged from reporting crimes.
Investigators said several of the men falsely accused were subjected to extensive police inquiries.
Some underwent intimate medical examinations, while many spent months on police bail or under investigation.
The accusations, which dated back several years, caused severe personal and emotional consequences for the victims.
One of the men, Reece Lockett, said his life was “turned upside down” after he was falsely accused following a meeting arranged through the dating app Plenty of Fish in 2018.
According to court proceedings, Lockett and his cousin Connor Austen had taken Sharples for a walk near a reservoir after meeting her and a friend.
When plans changed, and Lockett said he would drop her off nearby instead of taking her home, Sharples reportedly became angry and told him, “Watch what happens now.”
She then called emergency services and accused both men of rape. They were detained for hours while police investigated the claim.
In a victim impact statement, Lockett said the accusation led to devastating consequences, including being disowned by his parents, losing his long-term partner and his job, and suffering severe anxiety and stress.
Another victim, Kaylum Davies, was arrested in 2013 after Sharples alleged he and others had forced her to perform sexual acts and threatened her with a knife.
He spent 18 months on police bail before investigators concluded that her claims were inconsistent and unsupported by evidence.
Several other men were also falsely accused after meeting Sharples through dating apps.
These included James Blundell, who spent 17 hours in custody, and Andrew Dearden, who was detained and questioned for nearly nine hours following a consensual encounter.
Other victims included Anthony Green, Andrew Jackson and Jack Byrne.
Many of the men said the allegations caused long-term damage to their mental health, relationships and reputations.
Some reported losing jobs and being unable to see their children while investigations were ongoing.
Police said the prosecution was necessary to ensure justice for the victims and to maintain public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Authorities also emphasised that the case should not discourage genuine victims of sexual offences from reporting crimes to the police, stressing that every allegation is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
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