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A woman who claimed she was raped in her home by a man pretending to be a police officer today admitted in court that she made up the allegation.
The court heard Nicola Alison May fabricated the allegation after being jilted by a lover.
The Papakura woman potentially faces a $60,000 bill in police and other costs after sparking a major inquiry last month.
Speaking outside court, May told a large media contingent that genuine rape victims not to be put off going to police.
She said: "I hope that my actions do not stop you from coming forward in seeking help because the help that is available from the police and other support agencies is the absolute best that is available."
May, 41, pleaded guilty to one charge of making a false allegation to police when she appeared in the Papakura District Court today.
The court was told that May developed an attraction to a man who helped her move into her Papakura home, but when he broke it off because he was married and felt guilty she wanted to do something to win back his affections.
Before she went to a doctor to lay the false complaint May made numerous preparations.
Police said she cut her telephone line, pulled out clumps of her hair, rubbed her knees on the carpet until they bled and scratched her buttocks.
She also put a condom over a hammer handle and used it to create sexual attack trauma.
She did not want police to be involved but they were called after she went to the doctor, the court was told.
Police said after three days May confessed it was a false complaint.
A police summary of facts read to the court revealed May had also made a false rape allegation in 2004 but that complaint was not forwarded to police.
That complaint came to light through inquiries into her past and that of her previous partners.
May was remanded on bail to June 8 for sentencing. A psychiatric report and reparation report are pending.
The total cost of the inquiry into the false complaint was $59,382, made up chiefly of 670 police man-hours, which totalled $48,119.
The rest of the bill was comprised of medical examination costs, cleaning, forensic and security services.
Police said in court that attempting to reclaim the money from May may not be realistic as May is an alcoholic with a dependency on prescription drugs.
- with NZPA
