Woman avoids jail on rape claim

‘Attention seeker’ gets suspended term

A WOMAN who falsely claimed she was raped “for attention-seeking purposes” was given a suspended sentence yesterday.

Wheelchair-bound Gail Chambers – who has a history of wasting police time – concocted a “very lurid and graphic account” that she was raped in her Co Armagh home in October 2015.

Newry Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard the man she accused was arrested, had intimate samples taken and was then subjected to a police interview.

The court also heard this is the second time Chambers has perverted the course of justice by making a false rape claim.

After providing an alibi which proved he was shopping at an Asda in Belfast at the same time she claimed he was raping her, the man was released.

However, the incident has had a lasting affect on him, he had considered suicide and is having trouble living with the shame and embarrassment of being suspected of rape. Handing 51-year-old Chambers, from Russell Drive in Lurgan, a three-year prison sentence, which was suspended for three years, Judge Melody Mcreynolds said while cases such as this had an impact on stretched resources and real victims of sexual crimes, she was taking into consideration Chambers mental and physical difficulties.

In a victim impact statement, the man said the incident has affected his social life as he no longer trusts people.

The victim added “the only time I feel safe is on my own company. I feel suicidal and have considered taking tablets”.

Speaking of “several categories of victims”, the judge told Chambers: “Stretched professionals working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence have been used by you, effectively for attention-seeking purposes.” She also spoke of “genuine survivors of sexual violence whose cries of help are undermined by people like you”.