Detention for rape lie teenager

A 17-year-old girl who lied about being raped by a taxi driver has been sentenced to four month's detention.

The teenager, from Shipley, West Yorkshire, made the claim against Aftab Ahmed, 44, in January last year. She cannot be named for legal reasons.

She was sentenced at Bradford Magistrates' Court after admitting perverting the course of justice at a hearing last month.

Mr Ahmed, from Allerton, Bradford, said the girl had "destroyed" his life.

District Judge David Thomas told the girl she would serve two months of her sentence, a detention and training order, in custody.

She had been drinking in the city centre with her sister and friend when they put her in Mr Ahmed's taxi and sent her home.

The incident had spiralled out of control and I was concerned about what would happen if I said it had not happened at all Teenager's statement

The 17-year-old was sick six times on the way home and had trouble directing him.

When she returned home the girl called police and took them to a location on Baildon Moor where she said the rape had taken place.

The judge told her: "What you did had disastrous consequences so far as Mr Ahmed was concerned.

"He couldn't find your home because you were not in a position to direct him to it and he took the trouble to ask at several places.

"You repaid that kindness by alleging that he had raped you.

"The consequences were disastrous for Mr Ahmed, who was arrested in front of his family."

In a statement read out to the court, she said: "I was extremely disorientated in the taxi. I arrived home. At that stage I seriously believed I had experienced a genuine sexual assault.

"I returned to normality and realised it had not taken place. By that time the police were on their way.

"The incident had spiralled out of control and I was concerned about what would happen if I said it had not happened at all."

'Never doubted'

After the sentencing, Mr Ahmed said the girl should be "named and shamed".

He said: "I can't imagine that the person who destroyed a whole family got only two months.

"She had destroyed my family life, my social life, and she has destroyed me economically. She destroyed my credibility.

"There is also the effect on my children. She should be named and shamed."

Mr Ahmed's wife Amber, 32, said she "never doubted him for a moment".

She added: "I thought she would have got more for what she put me and my family through. I can't tell you how horrified I am."

Mr Ahmed, who has 11-year-old twin daughters, no longer works at night for fear of further allegations and he has had to put his house on the market.