Man lied and claimed he was raped at Dolphin Centre in Poole

Liam John Harrison Evans's fabricated claim led to at least 32 police officers investing more than 100 hours to investigate the report.

The estimated cost to Dorset Police arising from their inquiries was £3,661.44, prosecutors said at Poole Magistrates' Court.

District Judge Orla Austin told the 30-year-old defendant: "This was an investigation that involved 32 separate police officers and 102 hours of police time. It involved you making a false allegation of rape. You involved your current partner, and he made the original call.

"When you were questioned eventually you admitted you had made it up to get back at someone you were angry with on Facebook. A person who it appears had done nothing wrong."

Poole Magistrates' Court

Prosecutor Shammi Duggal told the court on Friday, July 7, that Dorset Police received a call from the defendant's partner saying that Evans had been raped by someone who was known to him in a toilet in the Dolphin Centre in Poole.

Officers interviewed the defendant with his partner present in June last year. He was unable to give a physical description of his 'attacker', the prosecutor said.

Ms Duggal said on the same date Evans's partner called police again with further information including reference to messaging taking place on Facebook.

The defendant attended a video recorded interview and underwent a medical examination at Bournemouth Police Station.

Evans claimed to police that the man he accused of rape had approached him on a bus.

The prosecutor said police inquiries with Morebus and the Dolphin Centre produced inconsistencies with the defendant's account.

Police arrested Evans in August last year over the "entirely false" allegation, Ms Duggal said.

He had seven previous convictions for 12 offences, including malicious communications, although he had not been convicted of a crime since 2019.

Evans, of Junction Road, Totton, pleaded guilty to causing wasteful employment of police.

Mark Hensleigh, mitigating, said it was his understanding that the man accused of rape in the report to police was never questioned or formally identified by officers.

Mr Hensleigh said that his client accepted it was a serious matter and he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

A report prepared before the sentencing said the defendant's deafness and developmental difficulties "significantly contributed" to the offence and limited his understanding of the consequences of his actions, the district judge said.

Evans was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a requirement to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

District Judge Austin said an application was made for £3,661.44 compensation to be paid to police. The defendant was ordered to pay a contribution to this of £1,000 along with £85 costs.