A mother who falsely accused ten men of rape has had her prison sentence increased by two-and-a-half years, with judges ruling the original term was "unduly lenient." Stacey Sharples, 31, pleaded guilty to ten counts of perverting the course of justice and was initially sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.
The Court of Appeal, prompted by a referral from the Attorney General, increased her sentence to seven years. The false allegations, made between 2013 and 2019 against men she met on dating apps and Facebook, resulted in significant consequences for the victims, including being held in custody, losing jobs and partners, and separation from their children.
Investigators estimated that approximately 264 hours of police time and around £50,000 were wasted on the months-long investigations into the false claims. Sharples repeated her allegations in recorded interviews, but police identified numerous inconsistencies in her accounts.
One victim, Kaylum Davis, who was 16 when first accused, described the original sentence as a "a joke." He recounted being left on bail for 18 months, experiencing shock and distress after being taken to a cell. His mother had to be present during his initial police interview due to his age.
During the Court of Appeal hearing, Lord Justice Popplewell stated that the allegations involved "extremely serious conduct all involving rape, and in some cases multiple rapes with serious violence and threats." He emphasized that false rape allegations can undermine the credibility of genuine victims and create public doubt, potentially affecting potential jurors.
The court heard that Sharples orchestrated some incidents, luring one victim to a shop to be arrested and telling another, "watch what happens now" after they refused her advances. She was also quoted as telling one victim, "They're not pressing charges, I've got away with it yet again."
Julia Faure Walker, representing the Attorney General, argued that the original sentence did not adequately reflect the severe impact on the victims, many of whom were arrested and investigated for months. Sharples' defense counsel cited her mental health and learning disability as factors in the original sentencing, noting she accepted responsibility but struggled to comprehend her actions.
During the initial sentencing, the judge characterized Sharples as a "sexual predator" who sought sexual encounters and then reported the men for rape if they did not reciprocate her excessive expressions of love. Sharples had engaged in consensual sexual activity with five of the men before making her accusations. Her offending reportedly ceased around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and her meeting a new partner in 2022.
Attorney General Ellie Reeves stated that Sharples' lies caused significant harm to 10 victims and wasted valuable police resources. She reiterated that all reports of rape are taken seriously and treated with care, and that those who exploit or undermine genuine acts of violence will be held accountable.