A Dover teenager sparked a huge police manhunt when she falsely claimed a stranger had raped her.

Now the 16-year-old has been cautioned by the police after admitting concocting the fake sex attack.

On Monday, December 8 last year she phoned the police to report she has been raped by a stranger in Astley Avenue, Dover.

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched a full-scale investigation, conducted house to house inquiries and uniformed officers completed checks in the area to establish whether the reported rape was linked to any historic offences.

It highlighted numerous anomalies and the alleged victim was arrested some weeks later for perverting the course of justice.

She later admitted that she had not been raped nor was she in the Astley Avenue area at the time.

'A huge amount of police time and resources were wasted investigating these false claims' - Det Sgt, Fiona Mattholie

Detectives referred the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service and this week the 16-year-old was formally cautioned for wasting police time.

Investigating officer, Det Sgt Fiona Mattholie, said: "A huge amount of police time and resources were wasted investigating these false claims.

This had the potential to impact on other reported offences.

"Not only were valuable police resources diverted but the claims of a stranger rape in the area caused residents a great deal of concern.

"We would like to reassure the community that we thoroughly pursue all allegations of crime and in this instance, the victim was the offender.

"Wasting police time is a serious offence and I hope this sends a message to people that we have a zero tolerance approach to such offences regardless of age, gender or personal circumstances."

DS Mattholie added: "All rape victims will get the full support of a dedicated team of specialist offers and a wealth of other agencies who will help the victim through the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings, and be treated with the utmost sensitivity throughout."

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