'The pain of being falsely accused of rape will last a lifetime'

A man who was among 10 people falsely accused of rape by the same woman said her lies will affect him for the rest of his life.

Stacey Sharples, 30, of Farnworth, was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Bolton Crown Court after she made false claims against the men between 2013 and 2019.

Andrew Dearden met her on a dating app and the pair had consensual sex but he was arrested in Harpurhey, Manchester, when she claimed he assaulted her.

He told BBC North West Tonight: "It was awful. I was beside myself."

Dearden added: "How could the police let it get to so many people?

"It has been mentally and physically draining.

"Long term for me, it will affect me for the rest of my life."

Other victims had said Sharples had ruined their lives with her lies.

Reece Lockett, said his life had been "turned upside down" and he had lost his parents, his partner and his job because of it.

He said that he was scared to walk around his own area because he felt "labelled".

Connor Austen, said Sharples had "ruined seven years of my life".

"I lost my home, my partner and had to defend myself for something I never did. I lost my job and couldn't get another one."

GMP said the investigation into Sharples commenced after investigative lines of inquiry "consistently" revealed evidence contrary to what had been disclosed by her.

The force said there was a "continuous, wilful making of false allegations" by Sharples, who knew "full well the consequences for each of the men involved".

The force said that most of the men were arrested and spent time in custody.

Some of the men had to undertake intimate examinations and almost all of them spent periods of time on police bail or were released under investigation, it added.

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