UEA student . who claimed to police that sexually she was assaulted has admitted she was lying. She accused a male jogger of attacking her near the broad last week. But police are not prosecuting the girl for making false allegaThe 23-year-old international student was walking by the lake when one Qf her lectures was cancelled. She set the pretend assault as happening between the River Yare footbridge and Colney lane, among some trees. She said she was listening to her personal stereo, when a jogger sat down next to her, and as she stood up to leave , he pulled her down and sexually assaulted her. The girl reported the attack to the police on Monday November 4 but she didn't admit she made it up until the following Saturday. Detective Sergeant Nigel Richards who was dealing with the case said the girl has wasted lots of police time. "We took the allegation extremely seriously, but we have accepted her reasons and they are personal matters between her and ITer University advisers.
and THOM SMITH
it is very sad from her point of view, she has had a hard few weeks ." The detective added that isolated incidents will always happen at the University because it is an open area. "We have never had anything as serious as these allegations before. Let's just be thankful that it didn't happen, everyone can go back to normal now." There was a possible suspect because the description she gave was fitting to a man who was in the area at the time and she needed a description to base her story on. But he did not touch her. Detective Sergeant Richards anc! his team had been trawling the county's sex offenders register, and looking for possible links with other attacks throughout last week, hoping to find a picture fitting the supposed sex pest. "There have been other incidents in that area before, like flashers and so on. People know there are young students around that area." The student told police that she saw other people around the broad, particularly dog-walkers,
who could have been possible witnesses. Police appealed for a witness who may have seen路the man or the young girl to come forward . The investigation has been terminated and police are sympathetic towards the girl. .Security Manager McCormack warns students that while the Campus is a rel atively safe environment, they should always consider their own personal safety when walking alone. "This is particularly true in secluded places and also during the hours of darkness. If they see anything at all ~uspicious they should always contact Security." "These type of incidents are rare and this is the first of its kind . Areas such as Earlham Park and the Campus are no different to other ru ral and parkland areas which have secluded parts and the advice above should always be followed ." Mr McCormack added that he did not know why the girl had made up the story. "But people who make such allegations tend to be troubled by other matters and need the support of friends and family. "The University is offering every possible su.pport to the student."