Woman jailed for false rape allegation
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
A woman who made a false rape allegation that led to an innocent man being arrested has been jailed for 18 months after she admitted perverting justice. Rosanne England, 21, tore her underwear and scratched her face before telling police that a stranger had entered her house in Holbury near Southampton. She told officers that he had asked to use her phone and toilet but then attacked her, Winchester Crown Court heard. She gave police a detailed description and officers launched a manhunt. Derek Cummings, 59, a married father of two teenage daughters who was at a social club nearby, fitted the description and could not offer an alibi. He was detained for 28 hours but was exonerated by forensic evidence. The court heard England suffered mental health problems.