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Please help! Any advice would be much appreciated :(

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  • Please help! Any advice would be much appreciated :(

    In 1999 at the age of 20, I was invited back to an 18 year old female's house after we had been to the pub. One thing lead to another and there was a little foreplay (no actual sex) I stayed all night and after a brief, pleasant chat in the morning. I went home a little hungover.

    4 months later she called me up really drunk accusing me of rape. I immediately responded with "I don't know what you're playing at, but I suggest you phone the Police." She didn't, and fairly quickly the accusation became common knowledge between our mutual friends. I was open and honest about it and never avoided discussing it, then, or since. Almost as soon as it started, the allegation faded out and I got the impression that she'd just regretted our one night stand and rather than having to admit she was embarrassed, she foolishly pulled the rape card. Stupid, but not uncommon sadly. Everyone who knew about it was in agreement with me as far as I know.

    Fast forward to September 2008. Another female friend of mine accompanied me home from the pub (neither of us were drunk) where we had sex - initiated by her. Afterwards, she seemed a little awkward and then told me that she had a boyfriend in another town and asked me not to tell anyone we had slept together because she didn't want him to know. This made me feel a bit weird but I respected the request and honored it. She later got a taxi home.

    My friend remembers us both leaving the pub and he got the impression we were going to sleep together. He is happy to give a statement supporting this but the Police never contacted him or anyone else who I asked them to call in support of my case.

    Myself and girl 2, stayed in touch regularly and on Christmas day of the same year, she spent most of the day with me at my house - just the two of us (Facebook messages verifying all of this have been passed to the police.) Over the next few months we grew apart a little, not in a weird way -and then in the summer of 2012, while at a party, she came out with the accusation that I had raped her. She is also friends with my first accuser and the previous accusation was already known to her at the time of her complaint.

    This time I was a little more upset. We had been good friends and I couldn't understand why she would do such a thing. When I found out about it I again concentrated on affirming my innocence and for her to contact the police rather than shouting about it tastelessly in public. Again, everything calmed down.
    In March of this year I was arrested on suspicion of 3 counts of rape. The 2 mentioned above and a third - ANOTHER mutual friend of the first 2. She was also a close friend of mine who I had fallen out of touch with. We had slept together on one occasion in the past with NO shadow of a doubt about consent and I again, have facebook messages showing that we were still in cordial contact for some months afterwards. I had no idea about this accusation until the Police told me.

    The first accusation from 1999, I see as a separate beast from the others. It was clearly a poorly conceived attempt to cover embarrassment on her part and it was fairly obvious. I wasn't even that bugged about it at the time because it was such an obvious sham.

    The next two are a little darker.

    Both of the latter girls and myself - and indeed all of our social group at the time were heavy Ketamine users.
    They have both spun this fact with their complaints to imply that I had given them drugs and then gone on to take advantage of them. The fact is we ALL took drugs at that time and sleeping with someone on drugs was no different to sleeping with someone who had been drinking tea. It's sad but true. I reiterate there was NEVER and question of doubt regarding consent in any of these cases and the facebook evidence shows clearly that the accusations came into being LONG after the incidents after a remaining period of friendship in both cases. In the case of girl 1, I regret that it's simply my word against hers. It was 16 years ago and there was no social networking back then.

    In the cases of girls 2 and 3 -
    Thankfully, as I said, there is good facebook evidence to at least prove that we were still in regular friendly contact long after the times of the respective complaints in BOTH cases. This doesn't detract from the fact that these accusations are AWFUL and without knowing all the facts it would be easy to judge.
    I was bailed in March to return in October. The OIC called me two days before my bail date to tell me that the case was being sent to the CPS for a decision and that I was at that point being taken OFF bail while waiting to hear what's going to happen???

    So now I'm waiting to hear if I am to be charged, mentally ruined with my career on the line and Chinese whispers all around me regarding the case - which the Police are STILL forbidding me to discuss which is fueling suspicion.

    I have also discovered that NONE of the five people whom the police should have contacted regarding my side of the story have heard from them, much less given statements. The Police said there was "A lack of willingness to give statements" from some of them and "Difficulty contacting" others. Having checked with all involved they're all happy to talk to the police and my solicitor has sent their numbers to the Police asking them to follow it up.

    So here I am Tick, Tock. I'm petrified of being prosecuted and publicly shamed. I am the primary carer for my Dad, he has Alzheimers disease - If I'm imprisoned wrongly over this bull**** - he will very likely die while i'm inside.

    If anyone has had any similar experiences or can offer any advice I would be very much indebted to you.
    Last edited by Casehardened; 5 November 2015, 09:38 PM. Reason: Adding line breaks between paragraphs for easier comprehension.

  • #2
    Hello, sorry that you have also found yourself on here, but believe me this is the best place for support and advice!

    Sadly, I can't really offer you anything in the way of advice!
    My story is very different to yours, but non the less we both still find ourselves on here!

    There are some cracking people on here, and I'm sure they will give you some sound advice very soon.

    I wish you all the best and hope you sort this situation out very soon!!!

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi, sorry to hear about the situation you are in, as above mine is a completely different situation to what you find youself in, however id say the feelings of helplessness and fear are pretty common to all who are going through this certainly from what i have read on here anyway.

      The cps can take a long time to make a decision, with me it took them 7 months to decide to charge me, i found the waiting was the worst part as everything is so uncertain. The only advice i can really offer is try to keep your head up and dont let it drag u down, far easier said than done i know. I hope it works out the right way for you as no person deserves to be out through the hell that comes with these accusations

      All the best

      Comment


      • #4
        Thanks for the support guys.
        I'm just hoping that there's enough evidence supporting my side of things for them not to charge me. I'm damned sure that my accusers have NO evidence because in simple terms, there was no crime! Sadly that doesn't seem to make any difference.
        Are other offences also prosecuted in the same way I wonder? Someones "word" being enough to go to trial?
        Something my Mum kept saying to me early on was "Don't freak out, they HAVE TO have evidence" - It turns out that they don't. It's disgusting.
        I'm shocked that there is currently a file on a desk with the CPS, awaiting a decision whether to charge me or not, that doesn't even contain any supporting statements for my defense because the police didn't even interview my witnesses! How can the Police be allowed to do that? My career is already ruined and I'm struggling mentally too, I've had mental health issues for 25 years and this has made it way worse. I'm worried that I may never recover from this even if I'm not charged. How can a fair justice system treat someone who's innocent until proven guilty like this? I dread being named and shamed in the press not only because I'm 100% innocent, but also because of the upset it will cause my loved ones and the fact that for the rest of my life, if someone Googles my name, the first thing they'll find is all of this bull****. It's shocking! I wouldn't mind betting that they won't wait for a verdict before printing my name either.
        - guilty until proven innocent.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by matt1701 View Post
          Chinese whispers all around me regarding the case - which the Police are STILL forbidding me to discuss which is fueling suspicion.
          Hi Matt,

          I was a bit puzzled by this, it's a usual bail condition not to contact the accusers or any of their witnesses, but not to discuss it with anyone at all??

          For instance if you are still in contact with any of your friends from those periods in your life, they may be able to confirm the events but obviously you need to chat with them first to check.
          'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger'

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by matt1701 View Post
            Are other offences also prosecuted in the same way I wonder? Someones "word" being enough to go to trial?
            Can you imagine walking into a police station and reporting that you were burgled 20 years ago
            'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger'

            Comment


            • #7
              I think that last comment puts the whole sorry situation in perspective CH
              They tried to bury us- they didn't know we were seeds

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by matt1701 View Post
                Thanks for the support guys.
                I'm just hoping that there's enough evidence supporting my side of things for them not to charge me. I'm damned sure that my accusers have NO evidence because in simple terms, there was no crime! Sadly that doesn't seem to make any difference.
                Are other offences also prosecuted in the same way I wonder? Someones "word" being enough to go to trial?
                Something my Mum kept saying to me early on was "Don't freak out, they HAVE TO have evidence" - It turns out that they don't. It's disgusting.
                I'm shocked that there is currently a file on a desk with the CPS, awaiting a decision whether to charge me or not, that doesn't even contain any supporting statements for my defense because the police didn't even interview my witnesses! How can the Police be allowed to do that? My career is already ruined and I'm struggling mentally too, I've had mental health issues for 25 years and this has made it way worse. I'm worried that I may never recover from this even if I'm not charged. How can a fair justice system treat someone who's innocent until proven guilty like this? I dread being named and shamed in the press not only because I'm 100% innocent, but also because of the upset it will cause my loved ones and the fact that for the rest of my life, if someone Googles my name, the first thing they'll find is all of this bull****. It's shocking! I wouldn't mind betting that they won't wait for a verdict before printing my name either.
                - guilty until proven innocent.
                Hi Matt,
                Welcome to the forum, I'm sorry you find yourself on here. I understand your distress as I'm sure everyone else does on here, but try and remain calm and avoid your mind doing summersaults.

                It takes a little while to really take stock of the situation and as things move so slowly with the police/cps in any case, try to use the time on training yourself to remaining focused and increasing your mental and physical well-being. Past mental health issues or not, if you crumble now you will not be doing yourself any sevices.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Casehardened View Post
                  Hi Matt,

                  I was a bit puzzled by this, it's a usual bail condition not to contact the accusers or any of their witnesses, but not to discuss it with anyone at all??

                  For instance if you are still in contact with any of your friends from those periods in your life, they may be able to confirm the events but obviously you need to chat with them first to check.
                  I agree of course - I am puzzled too. They are quite clear that I mustn't discuss the case AT ALL or it will harm my defense. The OIC specified that if there was anyone I wanted her to talk to in my defense, I should send her the details and she would talk to them. And guess what? - She didn't contact ANY of my witnesses and it's already gone to the CPS.
                  Scary.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Casehardened View Post
                    Can you imagine walking into a police station and reporting that you were burgled 20 years ago
                    I'd never thought of it like that - You're absolutely right! It's loaded against the person being accused right from the start - in so many ways. Awful

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by whatsgoingon? View Post
                      Hi Matt,
                      Welcome to the forum, I'm sorry you find yourself on here. I understand your distress as I'm sure everyone else does on here, but try and remain calm and avoid your mind doing summersaults.

                      It takes a little while to really take stock of the situation and as things move so slowly with the police/cps in any case, try to use the time on training yourself to remaining focused and increasing your mental and physical well-being. Past mental health issues or not, if you crumble now you will not be doing yourself any sevices.
                      Thank you for the kind words.
                      I'm a mess, it's totally mind blowing. I've never been so confused and scared in my life.
                      Doing my best to hang tough, but my mental condition is a hard hurdle even under normal circumstances.
                      This forum is a God send.

                      Thank you all so much for being here and helping.

                      None of us can be as strong as ALL of us.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        If it makes you feel better, the police are under pressure to hit rape prosecution targets since the whole Operation Yewtree kicked off, so they are more likely to refer to the CPS now.

                        It doesn't necessarily mean that the CPS will go ahead and charge. After all, they are an independent set of eyes and have to consider whether it is in the public interest and whether the chance of conviction is higher than not.

                        Looking at the statistics on rape published yesterday, 5% of all reports actually get convictions. I think these cases are more bang to rights than the vast majority of false accuser's stories (i.e. DNA evidence, CCTV footage, witnesses of the actual rape taking place).

                        The way I see it, if it just comes down to an argument over consent, and there is absolutely no evidence aside from one word against another, I wouldn't get worried too much. I got arrested 5 weeks ago and I am going through the same process, but have calmed down a lot since talking on here and taking apart my accuser's story (my own wife!!).

                        Best thing is to think of all motives as to why your accuser would accuse you - cui bono?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Thanks dude, it's really reassuring to hear things like that.
                          I can't think of any rhyme or reason to any of this stuff, I just hope that in the process of investigating it all, the truth will come out.
                          There's clearly a big part of this picture that I don't know about which is stringing it all together :/
                          I hope things come out right for you too. Nobody deserves this kind of nightmare.

                          Hang tough man - and thanks again

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Matt
                            Ive replied to you on another thread but it's another members so I thought I would write here too.
                            In our situation too we have more than one allegation, over 2 years apart.
                            They seem to take it more seriously when there is more than one as it strengthens the case overall, but they still need to put together a case in each scenario.
                            The advice I put in the other thread has helped us to manage the long waiting time.
                            My OH hasn't been charged yet, but is answering bail (again) soon.
                            Even if there's a charge it's not the end but the beginning of the fight of your life.
                            Hang on to the fact that you're innocent and keep any evidence in readiness.
                            But remember, it may never happen.
                            Hang in there.
                            YoH

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by TotalNightmare View Post
                              If it makes you feel better, the police are under pressure to hit rape prosecution targets since the whole Operation Yewtree kicked off, so they are more likely to refer to the CPS now.

                              It doesn't necessarily mean that the CPS will go ahead and charge. After all, they are an independent set of eyes and have to consider whether it is in the public interest and whether the chance of conviction is higher than not.

                              Looking at the statistics on rape published yesterday, 5% of all reports actually get convictions. I think these cases are more bang to rights than the vast majority of false accuser's stories (i.e. DNA evidence, CCTV footage, witnesses of the actual rape taking place).

                              The way I see it, if it just comes down to an argument over consent, and there is absolutely no evidence aside from one word against another, I wouldn't get worried too much. I got arrested 5 weeks ago and I am going through the same process, but have calmed down a lot since talking on here and taking apart my accuser's story (my own wife!!).

                              Best thing is to think of all motives as to why your accuser would accuse you - cui bono?
                              Thank you for this. I just can't believe all of this is happening. Hopefully we can get through it.

                              Comment

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