British teenager accused of lying over gang rape returns home
Cypriot judge decides to give her 'a second chance' by suspending the sentence three years
A BRITISH teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus has arrived back in the UK - vowing to clear her name.
The 19-year-old woman was handed a four-month jail term, suspended for three years, on Tuesday by a judge who said he was giving her a 'second chance'.
She hugged her family and legal team and left Famagusta District Court in Paralimni weeping, with her head in her hands, after she was sentenced for public mischief.
Her mother shouted "She's coming home" to supporters outside before flying with her daughter to Heathrow Airport on Tuesday night.
Lewis Power QC, the teenager's lawyer, said her legal team would be challenging her conviction and were prepared to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
The young woman, from Derbyshire, told the Sun: "I am innocent and the fight will go on to clear my name.
"It's been a nightmare for me, Mum and everyone. Now I just want to be with my friends and family.
"What kept me going was my family and the amazing support of my friends and all other people who got in contact to say they believed me."
The teenager was stuck on the Mediterranean island for almost five months after claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the town of Ayia Napa on July 17.
She was charged and spent about a month in prison before being granted bail in August.
The dozen young men and boys, aged between 15 and 20, arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.
But she maintains she had consensual sex with one of the Israelis before he pinned her down and raped her with others - a claim all of them deny.
The woman said she was forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police following hours of questioning alone and without legal representation.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he has raised concerns over her treatment with the Cypriot authorities, after the teenager's conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK.
After the sentence, he said: "We will be following up on some of the issues in relation to the case. I spoke to the Cypriot foreign minister about that."
The teenager's family had raised fears that she would suffer permanent damage to her mental health if she was sent to prison, having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
But Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told the court he would not be jailing her, despite insisting that all the evidence suggested she was guilty.
Sentencing her, he told the packed courtroom: "Her psychological state, her youth, that she has been away from her family, her friends and academic studies this year ... this has led me to decide to give her a second chance and suspend the sentence for three years."
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the court, including a group of women who had travelled from Israel.
Holding placards reading 'we believe you' and 'don't be afraid', they chanted 'Cyprus justice, shame on you', 'stop blaming the victim' and 'you are not alone'.
Addressing applauding supporters after the hearing, the teenager's mother said, "I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice.
"On behalf of the family, I would like to say we are very relieved at the sentence that has been passed down today.
"I would also like to say thank you for all the support we have received throughout the globe."