Strood woman who lied about rape leading to innocent man's arrest admits wasting police time

A STROOD woman who lied about being raped causing an innocent man to be arrested has admitted wasting 100 hours of police time.

Stacey Wallace, of Humber Crescent, pleaded guilty during an appearance at Medway Magistrates Court this morning.

Wallace told officers she was raped by a man as she walked home from a night out in Chatham in October last year.

The 26-year-old said four men had followed her across Rochester Bridge and one had raped her in the grass area next to the bridge.

A man was arrested following an investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, but during his interview the man said the sex between him and Wallace was consensual. He said he gave her his business card, which was later found in Wallace's pocket.

Police concluded that Wallace's allegations were false after viewing CCTV showing the man and Wallace walking with their arms around each other, along with other evidence.

Wallace was charged with wasting police time in November and will be sentenced on Monday 10 June.

Detective Constable Catherine Holmes said: "Wallace's lies have led to the arrest of an innocent man who had to undergo extensive questioning and after which intimate forensic samples were taken from him. 

"Her claims resulted in over 100 hours of police time being wasted, resources which could have been used helping victims of crime."