Woman jailed for false rape claim

**frostyboy** · 15th-November-2008

A 22-year-old woman has been jailed for six months after she admitted falsely accusing a man of rape.

Jessica Mauquoy, a charity shop worker from Tredworth in Gloucester, made the allegation in July.

At the city's crown court Mauquoy was sentenced to four months for perverting the course of justice and two months for an unrelated theft.

Speaking after the case, Det Con Sue Fereday said false claims discouraged genuine victims from coming forward.

She added: "Jessica Mauquoy's malicious and false allegation resulted in an innocent man being subjected to an investigation and hundreds of police hours being wasted.

"Reporting on this case is likely to have undermined the confidence of future genuine victims.

"It is for these reasons that false allegations are treated seriously, and why this case has ended in a custodial sentence."

**Zuberi** · 15th-November-2008

6 months in prison?
I'd give her 6 years! It may be harsh but I bet you $20 she won't do it again!!

**Stan** · 15th-November-2008

It would be nice if she would repay the gov't for money spent so everyone else does not pay for her in effect.

And if the man could sue her for harassment, perjury, false arrest, emotional abuse and whatever else applies.

In any event it is good that there was some news coverage of it. And that she was named.

I would not mind seeing some widespread PSAs (public service announcements) covering false rape claims or that domestic violence is not a gender issue or other things.

**Celtic Druid** · 15th-November-2008

I'm glad there's been a prison sentence imposed, even though not for any where near long enough. That said, the more such cases get extensive news coverage - the sooner women in general will realize that false allegations are indeed a crime, and will attract an appropriate prison sentence.