Schoolgirl escapes prosecution after false rape claim

**frostyboy** · 8th-April-2008

A 14-year-old schoolgirl has escaped being prosecuted after she falsely claimed a man brutally raped her as she walked home from school.

Now the fuming man, Cleveland Kennedy, intends to take out a private prosecution against her after being wrongly labelled a paedophile.

It was the biggest police investigation in the market town of Chippenham, Wiltshire, for years after the girl then aged 12 made the allegation in 2006.

After the 'attack', terrified Mr Kennedy was arrested and kept in a special sex offender protection unit in prison on remand for 75 days.

Meanwhile as a 'treat', his accuser was taken abroad on holiday to get over her 'ordeal.' But then she agreed she had made it all up.

However, the CPS ruled the girl should be given a final warning after a police investigation that she had perverted the course of justice, leaving Mr Kennedy furious.

He said: "I am going to prosecute her. She should have been prosecuted. I still want her prosecuted. And I want compensation and an apology from the Chief Constable.

"I faced the possibility of life in prison for something I did not do. It was a terrifying ordeal for me. I was set up - stitched up."

Mr Kennedy, 42, was held on remand with Category A offenders at Bristol Jail before being freed.

Karen Harrold the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wiltshire said there was sufficient evidence 'but that it is not in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution' against her.

"I have advised that the young girl should receive a final warning which will involve her working with Wiltshire Youth Offending Service and include restorative justice approaches and counselling."

The CPS said the girl had been subject to sexual abuse by another person.

Kennedy had appeared before magistrates and then before a judge at Bristol Crown Court. He was being held pending his trial before he was suddenly freed.

Schoolgirl escapes prosecution after false rape claim

**Incognito** · 8th-April-2008

Sounds like a horrible ordeal that poor man went through. I can understand why he wants to prosecute. I think she should be held responsible for her actions, if not in adult court than at least in juvenile court. Apparently it wasn't the first time she did this, either. I think to let her get away with it (again) would be unjustified.

**Marx** · 8th-April-2008

Well it's hard to prosecute a minor, isn't it?

Unless, of course, it's the governments will - in which case, it miraculously happens.

**Travis A. Ramirez** · 8th-April-2008

Exactly Marx. I was 14 the first time I was charged as an adult. I notice the prosecutor is a female...

The last part from CPS leads me to believe there is an ongoing investigation of another person for the alleged rape. I wonder if it's someone she's afraid of, or maybe it's another "where there's smoke, there's fire" move by CPS.

**Dylan MacVillain** · 8th-April-2008

Quote from frostyboy

Schoolgirl escapes prosecution after false rape claim

The victim should be given a huge monetary compensation from the family and the government as he may not be able to work for a while due to emotional trauma and having his reputation sullied by the little tart. Also, the culprit, besides being imprisoned for the requisite seven years that most "rapists" get, should have her name permanently on the sex offender registry. Make women and girls who maliciously and whimsically play with men's lives live with their acts of terror for the rest of their lives. Every time they go to rent apartments or apply for jobs, they should have to report their acts of violence again innocent men. It would be their just desserts and it would stop women from making these life-ruining false accusations.