3:54pm Tuesday 31st August 2010
By Emma Cruces
A TEENAGE girl has been fined after admitting she lied to police about being attacked on the street.
The 17-year-old claimed she was grabbed from behind by a stranger in Accrington in the early hours, prompting police to launch an investigation and appeal to the public for information.
However she has now admitted to police that she made the whole incident up.
The girl claimed she was attacked by a stranger in the early hours of Saturday, August 21.
Police issued an appeal for witnesses to come forward after the girl alleged she was grabbed from behind by a man as she walked home on Hyndburn Road, close to the Asda superstore.
She claimed the man made threats towards her but that he ran off when a car drove past and disturbed him.
Following an extensive investigation, the alleged victim has been issued with a fixed penalty notice for wasting police time.
The report had prompted a large police response and a large area outside the Asda was taped off while a forensic investigation took place.
The officer who led the investigation, Detective Inspector Claire Holbrook said: “Allegations of this nature are always treated seriously and investigated fully.
“Sadly there is a very small minority of people that make false allegations, which cause unnecessary fear amongst local people and can channel resources away from genuine victims.”
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