Key facts
- Stacey Sharples, 31, had her prison sentence increased from four-and-a-half years to seven years.
- She falsely accused 10 men of rape between the ages of 18 and 24.
- Sharples admitted to 10 counts of perverting the course of justice.
- The Court of Appeal found the original sentence to be unduly lenient.
- Investigations into the false allegations wasted an estimated 264 hours of police time and cost around £50,000.
A woman who falsely accused 10 men of rape has had her prison sentence significantly increased after the Court of Appeal ruled her original term was unduly lenient. Stacey Sharples, 31, will now serve seven years in prison, an increase of two-and-a-half years from her initial four-and-a-half-year sentence.
Sharples made false reports between 2013 and 2019, when she was between 18 and 24 years old, leading to men being held in custody, losing jobs and partners, and being separated from their children. She admitted 10 counts of perverting the course of justice at Bolton Crown Court in March.
The Attorney General referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal, highlighting the severity and number of victims involved. Judges noted that the allegations were of extremely serious conduct, including rape and multiple rapes with violence and threats, which, if proven, would have resulted in lengthy sentences for the accused.
False rape allegations were said to undermine real victims and create doubt in the minds of potential jurors. The court heard that Sharples' actions wasted an estimated 264 hours of police time and cost around £50,000. One victim, Kaylum Davis, who was 16 at the time of the accusation, described his experience of being on bail for 18 months and the distress it caused his family.
Sharples' defense argued that her mental health and lack of intellect, constituting a learning disability, were factors in the original sentencing. However, the Court of Appeal emphasized the serious impact of her actions on multiple individuals and the justice system.
Discussion