Rape victim jailed for falsely retracting accusation against a violent and abusive husband - help with campaign sought

I can't complain and I can't appeal PF's decision when it will be made.
If they put a conviction on my record for this it will be like killing me.
I never even got a fine in my life ;(

I already contacted Rape Crisis Scotland, Victim Support, Scottish Women's Aid and a local abuse and rape line.
There's nothing that can be done, that's the law. My rapist got accused by me and the PF decided it wasn't worth to prosecute him. In my case, I got accused by the state (the Pf is like the "state" in this case), so it's a more serious matter. Yeah it's recent, I got detained two weeks ago.

I can tell you that I'll never go to a trial, whatever they say. I won't be thrown in front of the medias for false rape accusations, with me escaping for the rest of my life, after having raped, abused and shamelessly thrown on a front page because law was made by men.

Can you contact a support group - rape crisis - someone like that? Try and get someone to act as your advocate?

i am stunned by what you have said.

You need to complain, can't you complain?

What?

But this is outrageous. When was this, is this recent?

They are thinking of prosecuting you?

Phipps, I didn't follow this case very well but I'd like to join this discussion adding that police forces "push" the victims to recant and then they accuse them of "perverting the course of justice" or "wasting their time and energy". But having survived through a detention of that kind, I can immagine what kind of psychological pressure this woman had to stand.

I was nearly close to change my statement after being shoveled in a cold room, with no coat, in the dark, hands on the table, 2 male officers asking questions of sexual nature, from the fact if I liked oral sex to the fact I was required to hand them ID and password of my Facebook account, to the fact I had to count of all the men I had had in my life. And this is just the tip of the iceberg, I was detained for two hours and never stopped crying for all time. I'm still waiting for PF decision if I'll get prosecuted while my rapist was only questioned and charges were dropped.

The law is an ass.

Last line of the report

*All the hearings in Sarah?s case have proceeded on the basis her complaints are true, however, it has to be noted that Sarah?s husband has not been prosecuted for the offences and does deny them.

This is interesting on why the appeal failed to overturn the conviction. It's horribly sad for her.

Thanks for the update. Am very saddened to read this. Particularly this week, as MN campaigns for more understanding on the part of the judiciary.

No wonder so many women felt that the justice system would be unsympathetic if they were raped.

I understand from the articles I have read that the woman has mental health issues, as well as feeling theatened by the partner and his family.

This was not a false claim. It was a vulnerable woman feeling unable to pursue the truth.

I saw this on the BBC earlier, it's absolutely disgusting.

The "powers that be" including the man from the CPS who was on earlier all talk about how "guidance has changed" as a result of this case but STILL this woman has a criminal record. You couldn't make it up honestly I'm livid. Our justice system is a joke.

Thanks for the update. I'd like to know what the "fresh guidance about how cases involving false retractions of true allegations by vulnerable defendants will be addressed in the future", given by the Director of Public Prosecutions, actually means for women like her.

It's really quite abhorrent that a woman who was raped and abused in a violent marriage is the one who ends up with the conviction isn't it.

Yes, old thread but wanted to post an update:

She failed in her appeal to have her conviction quashed Although, her sentence was reduced to a community order.

The sentence could be quashed without the verdict being quashed, couldn't it? Is that what is called an 'absolute discharge'? I don't know.

eleison-Has she not pleaded guilty to the charge so theres no chance of it being quashed

I hope that her legal team will be pressing for her community sentence to be quashed too. She shouldn't have had any punishment. She is upset and hurt by what happened to her. She needs some sort of apology. And her children back.

This was discussed on the Wright Stuff this morning.

MW was saying he could see the point that the case was falling apart as she had "admitted" having consensual sex/wasted police time but the other panellists (Scottish comedian who wears a turban? Australian comedian who wears makeup and sings songs?) were outraged.

The Scottish guy said something like: "that's like saying that someone who withdraws money from a cash machine can't have robbed a bank". The other guy said that anyone who couldn't see that consensual sex and marital rape could co-exist was a moron.

I was pleased to see this.

Interesting idea re FOI.

You could assume the rate of lies told to the police is at least the rate of convictions for people who failed to admit guilt in police interviews. And then add all the cases that don't get as far as court... (Obviously more complicated than that, but just as a comparison - why are rape victims being persecuted when thousands of people must, in the CPS's view, be 'lying to police' every year?

Have written to my MP by the way - he was previously very helpful when I contacted him about a baby who had been starved of formula milk in Yarl's Wood, even though it's not in his constituency, so I hope he will take up this case.

Hello, I had a reply to my complaint to the chief crown prosecutor (Iwan Jenkins, Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS Dyfed Powys, Tel:- 01267 242108, email via [email protected] if anyone else wants to try).

"Thank you for your e-mail of the 14 November, 2010, and I note what you say therein.

I would like to reassure you that Dyfed Powys Crown Prosecution Service takes issues surrounding sexual offences, domestic violence and abuse of vulnerable and intimidated individuals very seriously.

Dyfed Powys heads the way in England and Wales with a number of rape cases that it prosecutes in proportion to the total number of cases it prosecutes in the Crown Court. A substantial amount of time and effort has been invested both internally and with the Police to ensure that investigations and prosecutions are conducted thoroughly and professionally with specific appropriate care being given to complainants.

"I appreciate that this case, on the face of it, provides some concerning headlines. Currently, I understand an appeal is being considered and, therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to comment upon the details of the case in any way.

"I am currently addressing the issues in this matter with the Police and, if there are issues or lessons to be learnt from the prosecution, I will actively take these forward.

"I am grateful to you for your time in providing this feedback to us and it is always the case that such comments are considered seriously and with other Prosecutors so that the public?s view informs the decision making of our Service."