Leeds sex attack claim was false, say police
Police investigating an allegation of a sex attack by a 14-year-old girl have said the teenager made the story up.
The girl initially told police she had been seriously sexually assaulted by a middle-aged man in an alleyway close to St James's Hospital in Leeds, but later confessed to lying.
She had said she was waiting for a bus on Friday evening and was pestered by a man who followed her and attacked her.
The teenager has been referred to a "safeguarding unit" for support.
Det Ch Insp Simon Atkinson said: "We will always thoroughly and proactively investigate any serious sexual assault reported to us and provide ongoing support to the victim.
"However, in this particular case, we have discovered a false allegation has been made and the appropriate referrals have been put in place in order to support this girl."