A teenage girl who falsely claimed she was the victim of a late night sex attack at this year’s Royal Welsh Show sparking a full-scale police investigation has been reprimanded for wasting police time.
The teenager had claimed she was attacked and seriously sexually assaulted in the area of the Young People’s Village at the Royal Welsh Showground at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, at about midnight on July 25.
A police investigation was launched and leaflets appealing for help from the public were handed out during the final day of this year’s show.
But today Detective Inspector Ian Andrews, of Dyfed Powys Police, issued a statement saying the alleged incident had not taken place and the girl involved had been given a formal reprimand.
He said: “Overnight July 25 to 26, 2007, an allegation of a sexual offence was received by police in Builth Wells. Following an extensive police investigation, a female was given a formal reprimand for an offence of wasting police time.”
But he added the police were committed to investigating thoroughly all allegations of this nature and said victims of sexual or violent offences could be reassured that the police treated all persons who reported such crimes, whatever the circumstances, with sensitivity and respect.
He said: “Residents of Powys and visitors to the Royal Welsh Show can therefore be reassured however that no such offence took place at this showcase event.”
The alleged sex assault was the second false incident reported to police at this year’s Royal Welsh.
On the Tuesday of show week, police, fire and rescue and mountain rescue services spent hours following up a report a man had disappeared in the River Wye in Builth Wells after falling from a bridge.
It was later reported that two youths had been fined £80 for wasting police time over the incident.
By Deborah Knox
3 Comments
Unless she is seriously mentally ill she should not have been given a slap on the wrist, she should have been jailed.
Lets just hope she doesn’t really get attacked in the future cause no-one will believe her.
silly girl.
You don’t know what happened behind the story, she could have been threatened, or she’s too ashamed or anything. At least we know the polic took it seriously and lets face it what else do they have to do round here!