A woman has been jailed after falsely claiming that her blind neighbour raped her. A court heard that the man had been left feeling suicidal over the ordeal.
Jade Wass pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Prosecutor Richard Bennett told a court that Wass called police on July 8, 2020, saying she had been attacked by her neighbour while she was camping outside of a Teesside home.
She had claimed that she had been asleep in the tent with her boyfriend when she was woken up by a man straddling her. Wass claimed that the man - identified as Mr X in court - made a 'cut throat' gesture before attacking her, reports TeessideLive.
The prosecutor said: "Mr X was particularly vulnerable. A police officer was despatched to the address to take an account and Mr X was arrested but then released on bail. The defendant contacted police saying she was very upset he had been released and said she feared for her safety.
"On July 11, the defendant was video interviewed for her full account of the alleged rape. She maintained her false account. However, swabs taken from her identified a match with her partner but there was no forensic link with Mr X. Police checked CCTV and contrary to her account it showed her own partner was outside the tent standing about at the time."
Teesside Crown Court also heard Mr X is registered blind and would not ordinarily leave the house due to his poor eyesight. He also said he had a hand injury at the time, which restricted his movement.
Mr Bennett said by January 2021 it was clear to police she had made a false report and on January 4 she was arrested and interviewed but gave no comment. In a statement to police on April 8, 2021, Mr X said he heard the couple having an argument in the days prior.
He said the defendant's partner accused her of 'fancying Mr X and sleeping with him'. He claimed at one point he heard her partner say 'we're going to get X, we're going to do something'.
Mr Bennett said: "When Mr X was arrested for rape he said he felt sick, he'd been asleep. He said he felt extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed about having swabs taken by a nurse.
"The police told Mr X they had to make a referral to social services as he had access to his son. Due to this Mr X had problems with his ex-girlfriend for a few weeks, but she eventually let him see his son again, but those initial weeks were extremely hard."
A statement given by Mr X laid bare the devastating impact of the false allegations.
He said: "To be labelled as a rapist is one of the worst things imaginable. I had suicidal thoughts due to the accusations, not because I felt any guilt, as I absolutely didn't do what she has accused me of, but the thought of the impact this malicious accusation has had on my life, mental health and wellbeing.
"I feared I wouldn't see my son again, it was about three months before I could talk my ex around and she allowed me to have access. This accusation almost broke me; I'm happy the police are pursuing a case against Jade Wass."
In mitigation, Simon Walker said all Wass wanted to do 'was get Mr X to stay away'. He said the defendant had had an extremely traumatic start in life and cared for her boyfriend.
The court also heard she was of previous good character and was suffering with paranoia at the time of the offence. Mr Walker also said that she acted out of character with no thought and had been assessed as a low risk of reoffending.
Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Wass to two years in prison at Teesside Crown Court. She was also handed a restraining order, banning contact with Mr X.
Last year, Teesside Live reported that the 26-year-old, now of Clarks Yard, Darlington, was living with her boyfriend in their car after claiming they were “homeless”. Wass and her boyfriend resorted to begging for money after sleeping and eating in their motor - and going to the toilet by opening the car door.
It was claimed the Middlesbrough pair made the decision to relocate to Birmingham months prior, but “weren’t settling” and decided to move back to Teesside. They said they left the city believing that they’d ended their tenancy agreement in their supported accommodation.
They “upped and moved” back, expecting to be housed, but it appears there was a mix-up with council accommodation. At the time it was not clear if the tenancy with Birmingham Council was still active and the couple told Teesside Live “a referral has been sent” to Middlesbrough Council.
They claimed they made the three-hour drive back to Middlesbrough in September but were left homeless.
At the time, Wass said: “We haven't had access to water to have a wash, or go to the toilet, or anything. We have human rights. We are vulnerable and have mental health problems.
“We have to open the car door and go to the toilet outside. We’ve got no shower, so are just getting changed and not washed.”
