False rape complaint in the 'minority'

The coordinator of the Wairarapa Rape and Sexual Abuse support group has described the false rape complaint made by a 25-year-old Masterton woman as "disheartening".

Wairarapa Rape and Sexual Abuse co-ordinator Michelle Ihaka said it was disappointing to hear about the case, however, she said false rape complaints were in the minority.

"It is disheartening but at the end of the day people need to learn from this. It's a very small percentage," she said. '

The unemployed woman's fabricated rape complaint occurred after a night out on April 17 last. Four days later on April 22 she provided a second statement to police where she admitted she had lied because she "knew police would give her a ride home".

The woman, who has name suppression to protect her identity, was convicted last week of providing police with a false statement. She was described by her lawyer, Jock Blathwayt, as having "recurring personality disorders".

The Wairarapa Hospital rape crisis co-ordinator complimented the way police investigated the complaint and conducted themselves.

Ms Ihaka said she was confident the victims of rape and sexual abuse in Wairarapa would still retain their trust in police and local support groups to take their complaints seriously.

"It's good that she made it clear that she did lie and was sorry. For that reason I believe the damage is very, very minimum," Ms Ihaka said.

During the case last week, Sergeant Jodie Lawrence told Judge Tom Broadmore the woman had used up hours of police time, support and resources before she finally admitted she had made up the rape allegation..

On the evening of Wednesday, April 17, the woman went to a male strip show in Greytown where she had a dalliance with one of the male dancers. She arranged to meet him after the show, however, she subsequently changed her mind when she saw other girls were also waiting and she decided to go home.

Sergeant Lawrence said the woman was unwilling to pay for a taxi and phoned police on 111. When she got through, she told a police officer she had been raped by a man whom she met at the rugby clubrooms.

After the complaint two designated police officers and a Rape Crisis Support worker met the woman. One of the officers travelled from Wellington.

Judge Broadmore convicted her and asked for a pre-sentence report and a reparation report detailing the plethora of charges police accumulated during their investigation.

Judge Broadmore adjourned the case until June 24 for sentencing and approved an order for the continued suppression of her name.