10 years for lesbian who lied about sex attacks by 15 men
Drunken cross smash soldier faces £85k bill
A WOMAN who falsely accused 15 men of rape and sexual assault was jailed for 10 years yesterday.
Jemma Beale, 25, lied to police about men she’d had consensual sex with or invented stories of gang rape.
While she was given £11,000 compensation, one of her victims spent nearly three years in jail.
A second man fled the country after Beale turned up at court to gloat at him.
London’s Southwark Crown Court heard that she made up the assaults for attention and to make her lesbian lover jealous.
Police spent more than £250,000 investigating the lies, while £109,000 in legal bills were incurred.
Beale, of Bedfont, Hounslow, West London, accused four named men and was convicted of four counts of perjury and four of perverting the course of justice.
The court heard she still insists the attacks happened, despite overwhelming evidence.
Judge Nicholas LoraineSmith noted her “extraordinary ability to lie convincingly in the face of incontrovertible evidence”.
He also warned that her lies would “increase Denial: Jemma Beale the likelihood of guilty men going free”. He said: “Cases such as this bring a real risk that a woman who has been sexually assaulted may not complain to police for fear of not being believed.” Madeleine Wolfe, QC, prosecuting, said the false allegations spanned three years and began with a 2010 claim against a man she seduced after he offered her a lift. The victim served two years and nine months of a seven-year term. Two years later, Beale falsely claimed that a stranger groped her in a pub – when she had attacked him. In 2013 she claimed two strangers sexually assaulted her near her home, then two months later she said she was gang raped by four other men. Lawrence Henderson, defending, said Beale maintains her innocence and was considering appealing. “She stands by the claims she made in this matter and if she had her time again would plead not guilty and contest the trial,” he said. Detective Sergeant Kevin Lynott said: “Beale has been exposed as a serial liar. I can only think that she was motivated partly by financial reward.” A SOLDIER who got drunk at a military bash and crashed his car into a historic monument may face an £85,000 bill, a court heard.
Daniel Chivers, 28, had been partying all night when he got behind the wheel, despite having a room available for the night.
He lost control of his car as he drove through the village of Ilchester, Somerset, and toppled a Grade II-listed market cross, which dates back to 1795.
Ilchester Parish Council has estimated that repairing the cross will cost £85,000.
That process will be dealt with through civil proceedings between the council and Chivers.
Chivers, of Yeovil, pleaded guilty to driving the Hyundai i30 on the A37 after consuming excess alcohol on August 4.
He was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £397, with £85 costs and a £39 victim surcharge.
No order was made for compensation as the magistrates said the amount was beyond the jurisdiction of the court.
Chivers had been at a function at the RNAS Yeovilton naval air base in Yeovil.
He was two-and-a-half times the drink drive limit when he drove into the cross and is now facing demotion in the Army.
Ray Peters, defending, said Chivers “has no reason to put forward as to why he chose to drive – it was never in his plans”.
Addressing the magistrates, Chivers said it was “downright stupidity”. He said: “I am aware the consequences could have been catastrophic.
“I am embarrassed and have lost all respect for myself.”