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**RFLH** · 9 May 2011, 05:47 PM

no - the last thing you do is tell the police anything that they could use against you - they are not there to help you, only to get a conviction.

Others will be along soon to help you with more advice.

**Saffron** · 9 May 2011, 06:18 PM

Hi ScaredStiff

It is quite normal in this freakish situation to find yourself telling half-truths to the police. My husband lied to them initially and claimed there had been no sexual contact between him and the accuser. He later phoned them and went back to change his statement. In court this was what really nailed him - he had "lied to the police" - shock, horror - he MUST be guilty.
DNA is not necessarily limited to sexual fluid. DNA can be found from a flake of skin, a hair, saliva, and can be tranferred through indirect contact.
Keep schtum for now. Confide in someone you can trust, and please please start going back to lectures. It will help keep your mind occupied.

**Raptorace** · 9 May 2011, 10:54 PM

Hi scared stiff.
I don't think u need to worry too much. If you didn't have full sex with her them the police won't find any seamen or your pubes etc in her underwear which they will no doubt have asked her for. Also if she was being raped with her friend in the next room surley she would have simply called out?? Unless you were in some way gagging her in which case one would expect bruising etc.
What u say u did sounds very normal, so long as you stopped immediately when she indicated you to do so. Personally I can't imagine this going very far, however the police move slower than a glacier so if your only going to sit around until it's all over the you could be there months, sorry to tell you.
Get back into uni, try to live as normally as possible and hold your head high.

**jamesthemug** · 10 May 2011, 02:54 AM

Mate done let this mess with your head like this, just chill out. I'm in your shoes and its easy for paranoia to realy mess with you but you cant let it. At the time when this all started i was alot of smoking weed and although it seemed to make things better, looking back it made it a whole lot worse so if you are at the moment then dont man trust me. Im at uni as well and i no how you feel with not wanting to bother with lectures and what ever but try and go, they help take your mind off it and assignments and exams and whatever give you somthing else to think about. And trust me these things take ages so your better off getting your degree especially if your a third year because you finish soon man. I no everything seems hard but relax man dont let paranoi **** with you! All i can say about going to the police and changing your statement is from what ive read about, but i wouldnt if i was you. The police are *******s man the conviction rates on sexual offences are realy low at the minute and they are under alot of pressure to improve them so they will use changing your statement against you. But as i say i have no real idea, my opinion is only based on what ive read so dont rely just on my advice. But just hold your head up, remember uve done nothing wrong, stay strong man everything will be ok!

**Verity** · 10 May 2011, 07:30 PM

Just to let folks know the truth in regard to the rape conviction rate.

Baroness Stern tacitly confirmed in her review that the rape conviction rate is in fact between 58 and 63%

Not the 6% the media spouts, probably on the orders of the Home Office.
The 6% figure is the 'atrition rate' which means the percentage of cases that get to trial, of that percentage figure 58 - 63% end in a conviction.

So, if 12,000 allegations of rape are investigated by the police in a year and 2,000 of those allegations get to trial there are 10,000 men accused of rape whose case never gets to trial.
The next question/s is: How many of those 12,000 allegations are genuine?
How many of those 12,000 allegations false?
How many of those 2,000 allegations that get to trial are, in
fact and actuality genuine?
How many of the 2,000 allegations are historic and or false?
How many of those allegations end in a wrongful conviction?
How many of the 2,000 allegations are historic and genuine?

How many of those 10,000 allegations were NFA'd due to the
allegation being false?
How many of those 10,000 allegations were NFA'd that were in
fact genuine but did not proceed due to lack of
evidence?

Someone needs to come clean and tell the truth. The police saying we don't keep records of false allegations is a load of bovine effluence.

Trying to get these facts out of the police et al is like trying to get the police to tell the truth in the Ian Tomlinson case.

By the way;
The conviction rate for murder IS.................55%

**psychotic** · 10 May 2011, 09:05 PM

need some support

i've just dodged at home for the last couple days... no energy and no mood to do anything... i know i've told others to stay strong and fight.... but sometimes i need some reassurance myself as well... this is exactly 1 month since i got arrested and i have not heard any news since then... sigh its driving me crazy

**Saffron** · 11 May 2011, 10:11 AM

Hi Psychotic
Waiting is the hardest part as there is very little you can do. At least if you are charged you can start assembling your defence.
Keep fighting the good fight.

**Scaredstiff** · 11 May 2011, 01:21 PM

Thank you all for your advice. I've decided to keep schtum for now and see what happens or what they come back with and if they require a second interview etc. I'll probably ask for a solicitor this time, if that’s the case as I didn’t request one the first time.

My university has already acknowledged my deferral letter and it seems a good idea to defer it till next year rather than continue with it at the moment, as I don’t want to just sit my exams and dissertation just to keep myself busy, as I doubt I would be able to give it my best with this playing on my mind.

Been bailed to return on the 3rd July, so I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks again for all your help and advice.

**Scaredstiff** · 24 January 2013, 06:08 AM

Just wanted to share my story and say, thank you!

After almost 2 years of having my life on hold, countless bailing and re-bail months part.

I was found NOT GUILTY of rape on Thursday, 10th January and found NOT GUILTY on the alternative charge of Unspecified Penetration (Digital etc) the next day, Friday 11th January .

The last two years of my life have been hell. I went from been a month away from graduating univ to being a total dropout. I initially asked for a deferral for a year due to extenuating circumstances, in the hope that within a year, this whole ordeal would have been over. How wrong was I? So that's 3 years in university wasted with nothing to show for my studying or money spent on getting me through uni.

Lost my flat and every I had in it (another long story)

And for the last 2years, I've been unable to hold down job or even focus or do anything remotely positive with myself.

I became a recluse, withdrawn and a shell of my old self, the amount of fear this ordeal has put in me

It wasn't even just the fear of going to jail for a crime I hadn't committed, a crime that did NOT even happen??? This was rape I was being charged with rape. The most despicable crime a man can commit in my opinion or be accused of.

And while the custodial sentencing starting point for rape is 5 years, this is a crime that carries a life sentence with it. My name on the Sex Offenders register and everything else that comes with being an ex con. I just couldn't comprehend it and I was going to fight till the bitter end with everything I had.

I previously wrote what happened at the start of this thread almost 2years ago.

To give a bit of background,

I was initially arrested after an allegation of rape was made....8 policemen turned up at my flat at 4am in the morning. In any case, I was arrested and subjected to all the forensic and medical examination. Gave a full 2hour interview without a solicitor.

I never even had sex with the accuser or fingered her, so the accusation was so far fetched and baseless that I was just anxious to tell them exactly what had happened and how crazy and baseless this accusation was. I was thinking to, surely by the time they do all their check etc, the will realize there is no substance to this. The timeline is as follows.

Arrested in April 2011, Bailed to reappear in July
Reported for bail and bailed to reappear in August,
Reported for bail and bailed to reappear in September,
Reported for bail and bailed to reappear in October,
Reported for bail and bailed to reappear in December,

Each time, they kept telling me they were getting statements and other evidence and CPS would make a decision soon, until I was finally told I was getting charged when I answered bail December.

When I was actually charged, I thought I would pass out but No, the allegation alone had scared the life out of me when it was first made and I was arrested, that when I was charged, I wasn't any more scared than I was when I was arrested which surprised me. I was just disappointed and angry. How can they charge me and on what evidence?????

Preliminary hearing in February, Trial Slated for June

The weekend before trial was due to start , I receive a call from my solicitor saying, the CPS Barrister got the dates wrong and had told their witnesses etc a different date and they couldn't get witnesses together straightaway.

Trial slated again, for October, another 5 months wait.

I literally felt like a pawn or lamb to the slaughter being toyed with. Did this people not realize what they have already done to me and keep doing to me????

Trial finally started in November
Day 1 - My barrister had food poisoning , so case had to be started next day
Day 2 - Barrister turned up, Jury sworn in and Case opened
Day 3 - My barristers condition had worsened and he wouldn't be able to proceed with the case.

At this point, the Judge dismissed the Jury and said the the case couldn't overrun into the following week, so the trial would have to rescheduled and started over.

Trial again slated for 2nd January 2013 (So I had to go through another Christmas and Start a New year with this hanging over me)

January 2nd 2013 - Trial
Day 1 - Turned up to told my barrister had developed the flu and wasn't coming.

At this point, my solicitor advised me that the case was going ahead and I would have to be assigned another barrister.

And while in theory this seemed like a disadvantage as he only had 24hrs to get up to speed with all the case details and background, I was advised that they are used to such situations. At this point I simply just resigned to the fact that, all this was happening for a reason and this was part of Gods plan. I simply had nothing else to go on besides that.

On meeting my barrister the next day, he seemed to be a brilliant and I left everything to God.

Day 2 - Trial begins, Jury Sworn in, Case opened
Day 3 - Accuser takes the stand behind a curtain
My accuser friend also takes the stand.
My interview transcript was read out(I gave a full 2 hour interview when I was arrested without a solicitor present)

While, I thought I was quite articulate when I gave my statement, listening to it back. It was obvious I was in shock, as I kept starting, stopping and saying so much than what I was asked. I really just wanted to give them as much information as possible. But ultimately my account was full and frank and contained the important facts ! I did NOT have sex and certainly did NOT penetrate her with anything.

Day 4 - I finally take the stand in my own defense. I was shaking, so I sat down. I recalled the events of that night and relayed it as led by my barrister.

I was cross examined by the prosecution barrister and I answered every question honestly. She tried twisting some of my words and told to read what I said in certain parts of the interview. I'm human, and react to certain situations like most people would but that doesn't make me a rapist.
When she finished cross examining me, my barrister had no questions or anything to ask me.

I did get emotional at times and choked up but never cried. I didn't need to force tears. My true emotions were there for the jury to see.

After 3days, closing arguments were made and my fate was left in the hands of the jury. 8 women and 4 men.

After almost a day and half of deliberating, the judge told the jury he would accept a majority decision if unable to reach unanimous one.

During this time, a note was sent by one of the jurors to the Judge...It was an open note....And she claimed her daughter had been raped when she was 18, 12 years ago and she was unsure if deep down her judgement was being affected by that.

The said lady was called up in private, in the presence of both barristers and the Judge spoke to her and asked if she could reach conclusion without the bias of her previous experience, she said yes..... and without being prompted, said I think he's guilty.

My barrister argued for her to be dismissed but the judge refused saying she had categorically said yes , she felt able to objectively look at the evidence and and reach her decision solely on the evidence alone.

At this point, they were only deliberating the initial charge of rape, which I thought would have been easy for them to reach a verdict on. I just thought, I'm ****ed. But thankfully there are 12 people who have to agree on a verdict.

It took 3 agonizing days but they finally reached a verdict a verdict was reached.

When the Jury foreman stood up to read the verdict, I was shaking and unable to stand and had to be helped by the Dock Security.

I heard NOT Guilty and burst into tears and just stated crying.

But it wasn't over, the jury was then directed to go and deliberate on the second charge of Sexual Assault by Unspecified penetration

This took another 24hrs agonizing, couldn't sleep or do anything on my return home.

The next day, at lunch time, almost 24hours after their last verdict and having been deliberating for almost four days, the Judge had said he would ask if they were likely to agree on a verdict at all, again a majority would be acceptable and if not, he would dismiss them.

And most likely there would be a 2nd trial with the CPS case been the second Charge -

Come 2pm, the jury had reached a verdict.

Initially this was the most likely charge I though would stick and be a compromise for some of the jurors (i.e Even though there is no independent evidence of any of the sexual activity, they might just say we won't convict him of rape as there's no evidence but we'll let the CPS have sexual assault) That was my though process anyway because even though I was fighting to prove my innocence, I had no faith in the system or anyone. This is the same system that had put me on trial on simply on someone's statement when, everything else shows the contrary . No DNA or anything, just a statement?

But with my hand holding my head I stood and I heard those words again, NOT GUILTY.

I was free. My knees buckled, I fell to to the floor sobbing and in pieces. I was relieved

I though I would be happy but I was just sad at the thought of how I'd ended up here, everything I'd lost over the last 2years and the thought that I could have lost so much much more, all for what?

I worked into that court room on my own two feet and walked on my on two feet a free man.

-----

In all, I just wanted to say thank you for your support. This forum was all the support I had all through the last two years.

I've leaned on people around me at different times but without them knowing what I was going through at all.

I told no one, not even my family or friends. The only person that knew was my friend that was with me on the mentioned night.

I went to court alone each time. My barrister was my only ally and support in the court.

But even though I never really asked a lot of questions or contributed a lot to the forums, I was always here, near enough every other day, just following peoples experiences and also preparing myself for my day in court.

For those still going through this, don't be defeated. Fight with everything you have to prove your innocence, prepare yourself and hopefully, the jury will see the truth. (Anyone might think it's easier to say that now because I'm free but I had no faith in the system prior to this but against the odds, I'm free)

I never really wrote a lot on here but this forum has helped me in so many ways through the last two years and just felt obliged to finally take the time share my ordeal on here, and tell those still going through this and similar experiences not to lose hope or give up.

Thank you all again and may God bless you all.

**Casehardened** · 24 January 2013, 06:54 AM

Thank you so much for returning to post up the conclusion of your experiences. I do recollect your first post but inevitably unless someone is a regular poster the details tend to slip out of the back of the box.

However it is good that you were able to visit the forum even if you did not feel able to post and it's great that you able to gain support from your visits.

The court appearance postponements and the ordeal of the actual trial sound an absolute nightmare especially as you went through it alone, especially when the woman juror said she thought you were guilty

; however you do seem to have been blessed with a 'thinking' jury as per the days of deliberation. Perhaps, as you surmised, the first trial and jury being abandoned was part of the greater plan.

Normally a NG verdict or NFA is celebrated with boatloads of dancing bananas, but I have found your account so moving I am unable to feel any elation at all so am only going to add one symbolic fruit

I am sure you are aware that your experience has coloured your life and you will never be the same person as before. Recovery will be a slow process and you will probably be down more than up; not having the trial hanging over you will leave a sort of vacuum but hopefully if you feel you want to talk you will feel you can do so on here.

You are a good writer and can convey emotion well: you may find it therapeutic to put down the whole story, start to finish, as if you were writing a newspaper article or book, even if no-one ever sees it.

**brokenman81** · 24 January 2013, 07:01 AM

What a post!!!

Well done my friend, so many things that were similar to mine, especially being alone. I travelled 140 miles each way to visit the Police, Barrister and Court appearances. I even sustained a serious leg injury trying to keep my mind occupied and hobbling to all these places on ur own was very tough let alone all the mental stress that goes with it.

What have I learnt from this:

Never to trust the Police! (Must improve their careers on ratio of convictions)

Never to let myself get into a cavorting situation (impossible now as this has resulted in permanent loss if libido)

Have faith in the Justice System

This site is a sanctuary for us that are falsely accused!!! There's always a motive behind theses false accusers, took a while to find mine, but a good job done by my legal team found, it resulted in that she didn't want to hurt her Husband. So it might be best just to say this half decent looking, easy going lad raped me!! Yeah cheers for that, you can just destroy my life because it was easier to say you'd been raped than had a one-night stand!

Many thanks to all on here, I've contacted directly a few people and even met up for a cuppa with another. Doesn't matter how strong you are you always need a support network.

Thanks once again👍

**Saffron** · 24 January 2013, 08:48 AM

Thank you so much for coming back and sharing your story. What you have been through is simply a living nightmare, and you did it almost entirely on your own. Your post will give hope to others who find themselves at the nadir of despair.
As Casehardened said, we would normally celebrate with dancing bananas but somehow this doesn't feel appropriate.
I hope that you can now start to get back to some semblance of normality. You might still find it helpful to visit us, and we will certainly welcome you with open arms.

**Izzy** · 24 January 2013, 10:26 AM

What a post Scaredstiff!
I can't believe how brave you were, to come through all that by yourself, your post has made me teary.
I really hope life is kind to you now - you certainly deserve it.
Thanks so much for comming back and posting.

**lawlessone2009** · 24 January 2013, 11:55 AM

Never posted any assistance or even read your story before but can relate to it.

A result and a new start to life.

Well done and in circumstances which were not perfect (barrister illness).

Light at the end of the tunnel even when the unexpected happens.

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