A Nelson woman who said she was sexually assaulted while hitchhiking in the Maitai Valley last month fabricated the complaint, police say.
The 21-year-old woman said she was hitchhiking from Richmond to Nelson on February 15 when she was picked up by a man in his 70s.
She said he locked her in the car and drove to the Maitai Valley near Nelson where he sexually assaulted her.
A police investigation has revealed the complaint was fabricated.
Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy said such complaints received priority and significant time and resources had been tied up investigating it.
