CHINESE UNIVERSITY STUDENT WHO MADE FALSE RAPE CLAIMS ABOUT POLICE OFFICER JAILED
A student who made up false rape claims against a serving police officer has been jailed for six years.Durham Crown Court heard the pair engaged in sexual activity, which she was the "driving force" behind.
He had then driven her home when she rang police, accusing him of rape, and he was apprehended.
A judge said it was only due to the "foresight" of the officer who set his phone to record an earlier conversation, that he was not charged with rape.
The Chinese master's degree student left the UK after being charged with perverting the course of justice, and was arrested at Manchester Airport after arriving on a return flight.
Li, 29, formerly of Howard Street in Newcastle, was remanded in custody and denied the allegations at a plea hearing in July last year.
She was convicted of three counts of perverting the course of justice after a two-week trial in December.
Appearing before the court on Friday (January 16) via video link from HMP Low Newton she was jailed for six years.
Judge Nathan Adams said: “Details of what took place are quite clear as he had the foresight to set his phone on record.
It’s only because of that foresight that really showed us what took place.
It was a far cry from the allegations that you told the police the following day.
You engaged in sexual activity with him but, clearly, you were the driving force in that activity.
He drove you home late at night and left you there.
What is relevant is that he was stopped half-an-hour later as he drove back and arrested on the basis of your phone calls in which you made allegations of rape multiple times over the preceding weeks.
He was held in custody for 35 hours, and then further investigations took place.
Had it not been for the recording he made, he would have been charged with multiple counts of rape due to your allegations.
But it was four to five months before no further action was taken and you were subjected to the charges.
You maintained your insistence over the allegations, but you were clearly disbelieved at trial.
Anyone making false allegations of rape to police will be treated seriously.
Police have taken great strides to persuade victims of sexual offences to come forward.
Anyone making false complaints and proceeding with them creates a wider-still impact on genuine victims coming forward, with a further impact with him being a police officer.
Rape is about the most serious allegation you can make.
You know they would have to take your word for it.
I can’t downplay how serious these allegations were and the impact they had on the victim in this case.
Duncan Bould, for Li, said she was considered a “low risk” of reoffending and a medium risk of causing serious harm if she does so.
“Clearly there was a pattern of offending here, but she has no issues with alcohol or drugs, and this has been her first contact with the criminal justice system.
But it’s been a severe contact and it’s had a salutary effect on her.” Passing the six-year sentence, Judge Adams said he had taken into account Li’s previous good character and the fact she has proved “a model prisoner” at Low Newton.
He also made her subject of a six-year restraining order, prohibiting contact or approached to the victim.
The judge told her she would serve about half of the six-year sentence in custody before being released on licence, when she will probably be deported to China.
