A TEENAGE girl who said she was kidnapped and then raped at knife point made the story up because she was late home.

The 13-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered Bexleyheath police station on Tuesday, February 20 and claimed she had been kidnapped outside Sainsbury’s in Crayford and then driven to Lewisham where she was raped.

Bexley police’s Sapphire Unit launched an investigation, but hours later their detection work revealed the incident had never taken place and the girl had lied.

She was arrested the following morning and, when interviewed, admitted she had made the story up because she was late going home. She was given a formal police caution for making a false allegation.

Det Sgt Jon Summers from Bexley Police Sapphire Unit said: "We treat all allegations very seriously and making a false allegation of rape, for any reason, is unacceptable."