Woman who lied about getting raped by soldiers is facing jail time
A YOUNG woman who falsely accused two soldiers of attempting to rape her after having sex with them during a drunken night out is facing jail.
Nicole Richess, 20, was ashamed to tell her boyfriend of three years she had cheated on him so she lied that they had forced themselves on her.
Her partner made her report the “attack” and the soldiers were quizzed by police.
But it was clear Richess was lying and she was arrested and charged with perverting the course of justice.
Richess, who was aged 18 at the time, denied the offence and was due to stand trial, with the men, aged 23 and 24, having to fly back from their units in Germany and Kenya to give evidence.
But the former carer, who has had to give up work for health reasons, changed her plea to guilty before the trial started and has been warned that she faces jail for her “selfishness and lies”.
Afterwards the men told of the impact the false allegations had on their lives and careers.
The 24-year-old said: “When the allegation was made I was petrified, I’ve never been so scared in all my life.
“It didn’t just impact on us, it impacted on everyone we knew – friends, family, work. It could have been the end of my life.
“That stigma you have attached to you the whole time is horrible, it affects everything, like relationships. I’m glad it’s over and hopefully she will get what she deserves.”
The younger man said: “My family were distraught about the allegations and the worry has been the biggest thing for me. It’s a big weight off my shoulders that it’s done now. I’m just relieved.”
People who make false allegations make it more difficult for true victims
The court heard Richess had been on a night out in Bournemouth in November 2012 with friends when she bumped into a group of four soldiers.
They went on a bar crawl with the servicemen, who were based locally at the time, and later to her house where she had sex with two of them.
Prosecutor Sophie Stevens said: “Her selfishness and lies had serious consequences professionally and personally on the two young men, who had to be disciplined according to the Army policy.
We hope that with this conviction, they will be able to move on with their lives.”
Isabelle Gillard, defending at Bournemouth Crown Court, said Richess was of good character and came from a respectable background.
She said: “At the time she was 18 and on the evening in question drink and drugs had been taken, in her case for the first time in terms of the drugs.”
Sentencing was adjourned yesterday for reports, but Judge Jonathan Fuller QC said that an immediate custodial sentence would be at the forefront of his mind.
Afterwards DC Stef Belton, of Dorset Police, said: “People who make false allegations make it more difficult for true victims.”
Richess will appear for sentencing for perverting the course of justice on March 26.
