News

Actions

Woman gets 10 years in jail for false rape claims

UK spent about $459,000 due to her claims
Posted at 11:41 AM, Aug 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-24 11:41:14-04

A woman dubbed a "serial liar" will serve 10 years in jail after making a series of rape claims that turned out to be false.

Jemma Beale, 25, of London, was sentenced Thursday to four counts of perjury and four counts of perverting the course of justice, according to The Guardian.

From 2010 to 2012, Beale accused nine men of rape and six men of sexual assault in four different incidents.

One of Beale's false claims led to a man being jailed for seven years, according to the BBC.

During her trial, a prosecutor revealed that Beale's false allegations led police to spend 6,400 hours investigating. Her claims also cost the British government more than $459,000 between investigations and trials.

When sentencing her, the judge called Beale "a very, very convincing liar" who enjoys "being seen as a victim."

The judge also said Beale's false rape claims "bring a real risk that a woman who has been raped or sexually assaulted may not complain to the police for fear of not being believed."

Clint Davis is a reporter for the Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis. Keep up to date with the latest news by following @ScrippsNational on Twitter.