Girl withdraws allegation of rape

Police in Tidworth, Wiltshire, are interviewing a teenage girl to try to find out why she made an allegation of rape which was later withdrawn.

The girl had told detectives she was grabbed from behind and dragged into a wooded area near Beech Hill Road.

A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman said officers were working with her to establish why she made the allegations.

"Based on her responses, we will consider the next course of action, the spokeswoman added.

'Not a victim'

Investigating officer Det Insp Matthew Johnson said the police investigation had begun after a girl told police that a serious sexual assault had occurred on 21 October.

The allegation was reported to Wiltshire Police on 2 November.

Mr Johnson said: "The teenager has since withdrawn the allegation and officers are satisfied from their inquiries that she has not been the victim of a sexual assault.

"Wiltshire police take any allegations of sexual assault extremely seriously and officers will respond by thoroughly investigating," he added.