A 24-year-old woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice by falsely accusing three people of rape.
Chloe May, from Agar Nook in Coalville, initially reported that she had been attacked at a hotel in the Loughborough area in July 2023. Following her claim, police launched a full investigation, which included the arrest of three individuals.
Picture credit: Pukaar News. The case was heard at Leicester Crown Court
However, inconsistencies between May’s account, the statements of the suspects, and CCTV evidence quickly emerged. After further investigation, the three individuals were released, and attention turned to May’s actions.
Detective Superintendent Reme Humphris, the lead for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), said the decision to prosecute was not taken lightly. “It is not often that the force prosecutes in these circumstances, in part due to potential vulnerabilities faced by the person making the allegation,” Humphris said.
She added, “The last thing we want is for any victim of rape or sexual assault to feel they cannot report it. We take all reports seriously and conduct thorough investigations to bring offenders to justice. In this case, the investigation revealed the report was false. False allegations divert significant police resources away from genuine victims.”
Humphris also highlighted the impact on those falsely accused. “May made allegations about three people, which led to their arrests and intense scrutiny. Their lives were deeply affected, and the reasons why May targeted them remain unclear.”
In response, sexual violence support network FreeVA emphasised that false reports are extremely rare. “The overwhelming majority of people who come forward do so truthfully, often at significant personal risk,” the organisation said. “This isolated case should not deter anyone from seeking help. Our priority is always to ensure that every survivor is listened to, respected, and believed.”
FreeVA also reassured the public that specialist, trauma-informed support remains available to anyone affected by sexual violence or abuse.
