A woman left her blind neighbour feeling suicidal after falsely claiming that he had raped her. Jade Wass, 26, was jailed on July 11 after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.
Prosecutor Richard Bennett said on July 8, 2020, that Wass contacted police saying that she had been attacked by a neighbour whilst camping outside of a home in Teesside.
Mr Bennett said that Wass claimed she had been asleep in the tent next to her boyfriend when she was awoken by a man, identified as Mr X in court, straddling her. She claimed that he then proceeded to make a cut throat gesture to ensure compliance before attacking her, Teesside Live reports.
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."
The 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 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 Bennet 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 off 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 has had an extremely traumatic start in life and cares for her boyfriend.
The court also heard she is 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 has 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 on 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 nothing.
“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.”
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