Sharples Gets Seven Years for 10 False Claims
Sharples Gets Seven Years for 10 False Claims
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Key Points
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Sharples met the men on Facebook and the dating apps Plenty of Fish and Badoo, during a period when she was aged between 18 and 24.
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The ten allegations resulted in eight separate police investigations, according to the Attorney General’s account.
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The court heard that Sharples used specific tactics to facilitate at least one arrest: she “lured” a victim to a shop so he could be arrested in public. She also told another man, “watch what happens now,” after he rejected her advances.
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Sharples told one victim, “They’re not pressing charges, I’ve got away with it yet again,” according to evidence cited in the reporting.
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Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP said rare cases like this should not discourage genuine victims from reporting rape, adding that reports are treated seriously and that people who seek to undermine genuine violence-against-women complaints must be held accountable.
Stacey Sharples, 31, from Bolton, will serve seven years in prison after a court increased her sentence for falsely accusing 10 men of rape. UK NIP reported that judges ruled her original four-year, six-month term was unduly lenient. The false allegations, made between 2013 and 2020 after she met the men online, sparked eight separate police investigations and caused lasting damage to her victims.
The Court of Appeal heard that Sharples' victims were arrested, lost jobs and relationships, and suffered severe mental-health effects. Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP said the case shows false claims undermine public confidence in genuine rape complaints. She emphasized that real victims should still report assaults, and those making false accusations must face serious consequences.
How Sharples Made Fake Accusations Online
Between 2013 and 2020, Sharples met 10 men through Facebook and dating apps Plenty of Fish and Badoo. UK NIP reported she was between 18 and 24 years old when she contacted them. She later accused each man of rape, triggering investigations that consumed police resources.
Calculated Tactics Used to Frame Her Victims
Sharples employed specific strategies to ensure arrests. Bolton News reported she "lured" one victim to a shop so police could arrest him publicly. She also told another man, "watch what happens now," after he rejected her advances. One victim heard her say, "They're not pressing charges, I've got away with it yet again."
The court learned Sharples repeatedly told stories with major inconsistencies. Despite contradictions, she maintained her accounts throughout investigations. Lancashire Live noted that eight separate police investigations resulted from her 10 allegations.
Real Victims' Lives Destroyed by False Claims
The 10 men faced arrests, job losses, broken relationships, and lasting psychological harm. UK NIP stated that judges emphasized how false rape claims damage genuine victims' willingness to report crimes. Public confidence in the justice system was also at risk from Sharples' lies.
Attorney General: Accountability Won't Deter Real Reporting
Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP warned that prosecuting false accusers should not discourage genuine rape victims from coming forward. Bolton News quoted her saying serious cases like this show that "people who seek to undermine genuine violence-against-women complaints must be held accountable." She stressed that rape reports are treated seriously.
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