Humiliated

[tigertiger]

Hi everyone. I'm a little too parranoid to go into any great detail. However I was falsley accused by my own girlfriend while overseas of rape. She returned home on her own and an allegation of rape was made. She later quickly retracted her false allegation via a formal retraction statement to the police but they still wanted a statement from me.

While still on holiday my solicitor made arrangements for me to go in an speak to them for a voluntary interview under caution. Police agreed to this and said it was fine gave a time and date. Everything seemed agreed and straightforward

I made my way back home a day before the interview, got off the plane, got to passport control, and it was swarming with a large number of police and easy to spot plain clothed officers. As soon as I got near to the passport check booth every single officers eyes were on me I knew at that point they were looking for me.

I passed the passport check and was then setupon by a large number of them telling me to stop. Taken in to a little room where I was told I was going to be arrested for rape. 5 officers yes, 5 officers, surrounded and marched me out to the baggage collection area in front of the whole plane and surrounded me while I waited for my suitcase. I have never been so humiliated and degraded in all my life. Everyone was watching and wondering what was going on. A false allegation which was retracted by saying it was not rape still resulted in me being treated like Bin Laded had just passed through passport control.
I might have understood if I was large intimidating person, but i'm not big and extremly underweight / thin to the point of people saying I look like im going to snap when I walk. I asked them why I was being arrested as we had already arranged to come in voluntary and some poor excuse was given.

Once getting out of the airport the two CID who put me in the car were "nice" with me and I guess people could be forgiven for thinking that they are trying to treat you with respect. I was told that I could be talk to them about anyything and not to worry just feel free to chat on the journey back to the station. I look to my right and see the "nice chat" would be written down by the officer with her note pad and pen recording times of what Im doing / saying for the duration of the journey.

For someone who has never put a foot wrong ever, being arrested, searched and slammed in a cell awaiting an interview was just horrific. After interview I wasnt charged but been bailed and now just part of the waiting game. The only thing thats kept me sane is knowing I have a great highly experienced specialist solicitor on my side.

Urrrrggghhh!

[Casehardened]

Hi & welcome to the forum.

On the face of it your immediate arrest at the port of entry after a voluntary interview was pre-arranged seems very unfair but I suspect this may have been done in order to impose bail conditions ASAP (and I'm guessing that one of them is not to contact your girlfriend)

The reason for this is unclear unless perchance her retraction of the rape allegation was made after phone or text contact between you after she returned home and whilst you were still abroad (perfectly legitimately of course as bail conditions were not then in place)

[tigertiger]

Yeah, you have hit the nail on the head here. She made contact with me and told them that in her statement.

Hi & welcome to the forum.

On the face of it your immediate arrest at the port of entry after a voluntary interview was pre-arranged seems very unfair but I suspect this may have been done in order to impose bail conditions ASAP (and I'm guessing that one of them is not to contact your girlfriend)

The reason for this is unclear unless perchance her retraction of the rape allegation was made after phone or text contact between you after she returned home and whilst you were still abroad (perfectly legitimately of course as bail conditions were not then in place)

[Casehardened]

Yeah, you have hit the nail on the head here. She made contact with me and told them that in her statement.

Thought so the police need to be whiter than white in case it does go to trial and obviously were worried you might contact her again before your voluntary interview and so went to a lot of time and effort to find out when you were coming back in order to intercept you.

A lot of manpower and money wasted on a false allegation, not to mention the embarrassment to you at the airport; I remember I was once stopped after passport control by two uniformed officials for a couple of inconsequential questions and that was bad enough (looking on the bright side at least you saved the taxi or train fare home)

Not wanting to pry but I'll hazard another guess: there was some sort of major argument between you on holiday; reading forum member's stories it seems that a woman scorned can be a veritable loose cannon.

[tigertiger]

I see, I guess as well they were hopeing to obtain evidence from the things they thought I would bring back, ie Phone, laptop.

I though perhaps with her retracting and telling them it wasnt rape before I was arrested they would have put an end to the matter but just seems like they are only interested in trying to destroy someone who they have now been told is innocent.

Lol, I guess my only solice is that I wasnt arrested at home where I live with my parents. I havent told them, they would find something like that terifying and troubling and would find it difficult to cope. Just hoping it doesnt come that far where I have no choice but to tell them. I have confided into my best friends however who have been supporting me through.
The two CID also apologised for the large police presence and said they were hoping it could have been done discreetly. Not really sure how genuine that apology was. I'd like to think they actually keep an open mind and realise how horrific this could be for someone innocent but wont hold my breath. They also never handcuffed me in the car to the station which I appreciated although they could probably see I was in no physical shape to harm a fly never mind them. In the station to be fair I was treated with respect, given food and drink as they said Id just come off the flight but I guess my suspicious nature just thinks there is an agenda to them being nice.

Yes again your prediction is spot on, this is reason number 1 of many reasons. Loose cannon is an understatement.
I dont even know how Im supposed to feel, I loved her unconditionally, dealing with the acusation, to morning of the now loss of a relationship.

During the interview they read out her statement, and two hersay statements from her two friends all of which were just pathetic and hole ridden I could have ripped them to shreds my self then and there. The only real evidence against me is her word. Funily enough they never mentioned in the interview she retracted either.

Thought so the police need to be whiter than white in case it does go to trial and obviously were worried you might contact her again before your voluntary interview and so went to a lot of time and effort to find out when you were coming back in order to intercept you.

A lot of manpower and money wasted on a false allegation, not to mention the embarrassment to you at the airport; I remember I was once stopped after passport control by two uniformed officials for a couple of inconsequential questions and that was bad enough (looking on the bright side at least you saved the taxi or train fare home)

Not wanting to pry but I'll hazard another guess: there was some sort of major argument between you on holiday; reading forum member's stories it seems that a woman scorned can be a veritable loose cannon.

[Casehardened]

From what you have told us I can't see this going anywhere; however I'm sure you will appreciate that the police have had a lot of bad press recently (think Jimmy S.) and they are now investigating every allegation thoroughly, no matter how far-fetched, and letting the CPS (eventually) make the decision as to how to proceed , so I fear it will be somewhat of a waiting game for you.

Have a read of:

http://www.daftmoo.org.uk/mooforum/s...at-happens-now

[lawlessone2009]

It's a little late on in the evening BUT...

Was the rape alleged to have happened overseas or in the UK?

[tigertiger]

From what you have told us I can't see this going anywhere; however I'm sure you will appreciate that the police have had a lot of bad press recently (think Jimmy S.) and they are now investigating every allegation thoroughly, no matter how far-fetched, and letting the CPS (eventually) make the decision as to how to proceed , so I fear it will be somewhat of a waiting game for you.

Have a read of:

http://www.daftmoo.org.uk/mooforum/s...at-happens-now

I live in hope that this will be the case, my solicitor also thought the same. I guess the just not knowing and hearing of some cases being pushed through which shouldnt have always gives me nightmares. Just going to try get back to some normality while waiting. Treating my self to a new car tomorrow, a new toy should take my mind off things ha.

Thank you for the link will have a good read.

[tigertiger]

It's a little late on in the evening BUT...

Was the rape alleged to have happened overseas or in the UK?

Yes it was, which I initially thought how can UK police even be investigating this. However in England and Wales there is a 2003 legislation where if either the alleged offender or victim of a sexual offence is a british citizen they can bring a prosection once the alleged offender arrives back into the UK.

They technically couldnt extradite for the offence from the country it was supposed to have happened. But if they come back they can prosecute.

[lawlessone2009]

Yes it was, which I initially thought how can UK police even be investigating this. However in England and Wales there is a 2003 legislation where if either the alleged offender or victim of a sexual offence is a british citizen they can bring a prosection once the alleged offender arrives back into the UK.

They technically couldnt extradite for the offence from the country it was supposed to have happened. But if they come back they can prosecute.

Have you been legally advised on this?

I am not disputing it, just find it rather odd and would like to be more aware of it as it is something that I've never heard off before.

[tigertiger]

Have you been legally advised on this?

I am not disputing it, just find it rather odd and would like to be more aware of it as it is something that I've never heard off before.

I mysef also found this odd too, but I initially spoke with three specialist solicitors and all quoted the 2003 act saying yes the UK police can get involved with an alleged offence overseas involving british citizens. So i guess your not even safe from a false algation several thousand miles away.

[Casehardened]

From what you have told us I can't see this going anywhere;

Just wanted to add that this is my opinion but as the CPS seem to work on the balance of probability of getting a conviction rather than the basis of probable guilt or innocence, it is probably better for the sake of your sanity to assume the case will go all the way and spend the waiting time in formulating a robust defence.

[Casehardened]

I mysef also found this odd too, but I initially spoke with three specialist solicitors and all quoted the 2003 act saying yes the UK police can get involved with an alleged offence overseas involving british citizens. So i guess your not even safe from a false algation several thousand miles away.

The legislation was really drafted to try to deal with so-called 'sex tourism' but you have been caught in the crossfire.

[lawlessone2009]

I'd imagine that it could prove a little awkward for the prosecution to present a case of a sexual nature in a court without the accuser being present or in some manner involved in the case.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen but I would be inclined to say that it happens rarely.

[Rights Fighter]

I mysef also found this odd too, but I initially spoke with three specialist solicitors and all quoted the 2003 act saying yes the UK police can get involved with an alleged offence overseas involving british citizens. So i guess your not even safe from a false algation several thousand miles away.

I don't think that is correct. I am dealing with an appeal where all bar one the the alleged assaults took place in the UK - the police couldn't prosecute the other one as it allegedly happened outside of the UK (Canada).

I've also helped in cases where only assaults allegedly occurred in the UK have been prosecuted. Others were supposed to have happened in Spain (and other countries) so were left to one side.

I think that the country where the alleged assaults took place can prosecute, but as far as I know the UK cannot prosecute offences that are supposed to have occurred elsewhere.

You said she retracted. Are they treating it as a false retraction?