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'Serial liar' jailed after bogus rape claims | 'Serial liar' jailed after bogus rape claims |
(35 minutes later) | |
A "serial liar" who made a series of bogus sexual assault allegations against 15 men has been jailed. | |
Jemma Beale falsely claimed she was raped by nine men and sexually assaulted by six, all strangers, in four encounters spanning three years. | |
One allegation led to the conviction of a man who was jailed for seven years. | One allegation led to the conviction of a man who was jailed for seven years. |
The 25-year-old from Hounslow was found guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice following a six-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. | |
She was sentenced to 10 years in prison. | |
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said in sentencing: "This trial has revealed, what was then not obvious, that you are a very, very convincing liar and you enjoy being seen as a victim. | Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said in sentencing: "This trial has revealed, what was then not obvious, that you are a very, very convincing liar and you enjoy being seen as a victim. |
"The prosecution described your life as a 'construct of bogus victimhood'." | "The prosecution described your life as a 'construct of bogus victimhood'." |
'Perverse impact' | 'Perverse impact' |
Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe told the court police spent 6,400 hours investigating Beale's lies at a cost of at least £250,000, and the trial cost at least £109,000. | Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe told the court police spent 6,400 hours investigating Beale's lies at a cost of at least £250,000, and the trial cost at least £109,000. |
"Cases such as this bring a real risk that a woman who has been raped or sexually assaulted does not complain to the police for fear of not being believed", the judge added. | "Cases such as this bring a real risk that a woman who has been raped or sexually assaulted does not complain to the police for fear of not being believed", the judge added. |
"False allegations are likely to have the perverse impact of increasing the likelihood of guilty men going free." | "False allegations are likely to have the perverse impact of increasing the likelihood of guilty men going free." |
In a victim impact statement, Mahad Cassim, who was wrongly convicted of raping Beale in 2010, told the court he had been hugely affected by the false claim. | In a victim impact statement, Mahad Cassim, who was wrongly convicted of raping Beale in 2010, told the court he had been hugely affected by the false claim. |
"One of my goals is to be a successful businessman, to have a nice family and be happy," he said. | "One of my goals is to be a successful businessman, to have a nice family and be happy," he said. |
"I am working on the happiness - I have a long way to go." | "I am working on the happiness - I have a long way to go." |
Beale had also falsely claimed she was groped by a stranger, Noam Shahzad, in a pub in July 2012. | Beale had also falsely claimed she was groped by a stranger, Noam Shahzad, in a pub in July 2012. |
She alleged she was then gang-raped by him and other men, and even self-inflicted injuries to back up her claims she was assaulted with barbed wire. | She alleged she was then gang-raped by him and other men, and even self-inflicted injuries to back up her claims she was assaulted with barbed wire. |
The following year Beale fabricated similar allegations against six other men. | The following year Beale fabricated similar allegations against six other men. |
She claimed two strangers sexually assaulted her and said she was gang raped again, by four others, two months later. | She claimed two strangers sexually assaulted her and said she was gang raped again, by four others, two months later. |