Tweet
From The Press and Journal:
Moray woman who cried rape twice is sentenced
A Moray woman who falsely accused two men of raping her was ordered to do 200 hours of community service yesterday.
Leoni Campbell admitted making the allegations in 2006 when she appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court.
Campbell claimed she had been raped by a 20-year-old man on July 12 and by a 22-year-old man on August 2.
Her address was given in court papers as c/o Public Defence Solicitors Office, 17 Queensgate, Inverness.
Fiscal depute Shona Duncan told the court that Campbell’s allegations had meant the men were subjected to medical examinations and lengthy police interviews.
Charges had not been brought in either case, she said.
Campbell’s agent, Diane MacFarlane, said her client had not known either man personally. She had identified one of them by flicking through previous school yearbooks.
She said 20-year-old Campbell, who was 16 when she made the false rape allegations, had matured considerably since giving birth four months ago.
She did not know why Campbell had made the allegations but suggested that her motive may have been to get the attention of a man, with whom she later struck up a relationship.
Campbell initially reported the false rape allegations to this man. He informed her mother, who in turn contacted police.
Ms MacFarlane said psychological assessments suggested Campbell had slight learning difficulties.
She added: “She presents herself as a very pleasant young woman but a young woman who is rather simple in how she proceeds in matters and thinks of things.”
Sheriff Noel McPartlin said accusations of the nature involved were very often punished by a custodial sentence.
He said: “Even if the first approach to the police did not come from yourself you confirmed those accusations and caused inquiry to be made and innocent people be placed under suspicion.
“For offences such as that the courts would very often impose a sentence of imprisonment but you have never been in trouble before.”
He added: “As an alternative to a prison sentence I propose to order you to carry out 200 hours of community service.”
A Moray woman who falsely accused two men of raping her was ordered to do 200 hours of community service yesterday.
Leoni Campbell admitted making the allegations in 2006 when she appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court.
Campbell claimed she had been raped by a 20-year-old man on July 12 and by a 22-year-old man on August 2.
Her address was given in court papers as c/o Public Defence Solicitors Office, 17 Queensgate, Inverness.
Fiscal depute Shona Duncan told the court that Campbell’s allegations had meant the men were subjected to medical examinations and lengthy police interviews.
Charges had not been brought in either case, she said.
Campbell’s agent, Diane MacFarlane, said her client had not known either man personally. She had identified one of them by flicking through previous school yearbooks.
She said 20-year-old Campbell, who was 16 when she made the false rape allegations, had matured considerably since giving birth four months ago.
She did not know why Campbell had made the allegations but suggested that her motive may have been to get the attention of a man, with whom she later struck up a relationship.
Campbell initially reported the false rape allegations to this man. He informed her mother, who in turn contacted police.
Ms MacFarlane said psychological assessments suggested Campbell had slight learning difficulties.
She added: “She presents herself as a very pleasant young woman but a young woman who is rather simple in how she proceeds in matters and thinks of things.”
Sheriff Noel McPartlin said accusations of the nature involved were very often punished by a custodial sentence.
He said: “Even if the first approach to the police did not come from yourself you confirmed those accusations and caused inquiry to be made and innocent people be placed under suspicion.
“For offences such as that the courts would very often impose a sentence of imprisonment but you have never been in trouble before.”
He added: “As an alternative to a prison sentence I propose to order you to carry out 200 hours of community service.”