Girl detained for Bolton taxi rape lie
A teenager who lied about being raped by a taxi driver in Greater Manchester has been detained for 12 months.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, admitted perverting the course of justice at Bolton magistrates' court.
The driver agreed to take the girl home on 8 January, despite her not having the fare, if she handed over her ring until she could pay, police said.
After he dropped off the girl at home she told her mother she had been raped and the man was later arrested.
His car was seized and statements taken from his colleagues, police said.
The driver spent 12 hours in custody before being released on bail.
The girl was taken to hospital and had appointments made for her to see specialists at St Mary's in Manchester.
Det Con Stuart Round, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "The man took the girl home when no other driver would and even allowed her to pay her fare the following day, yet she repaid his kindness with a wicked lie that landed him in a police cell.
"He had to deal with the associated stigma of being accused of such a grave offence and we wasted a lot of time, effort and money on the investigation when it could have been better spent serving the community.
"The scope of our investigation in this incident proves how thoroughly we investigate all reports of rape and I hope this girl's inexcusable actions in no way deter genuine victims from coming forward.