British woman, 19, ‘who cried gang-rape on 12 Israeli teens before changing her story’ arrives at court covered with a hoodie to face public mischief charge
- British woman, 19, said she was gang-raped by 12 Israelis in Aiya Napa, Cyprus
- But all suspects were released after she changed her story to say that the group had filmed her having consensual sex without her permission
- She is now charged with public mischief and facing up to a year behind bars
- She appeared in court in Cyprus for a plea hearing on Wednesday morning
A British woman accused of falsely claiming she had been gang raped by a group of Israeli teens while on holiday in Cyprus has arrived at court for a plea hearing.
The 19-year-old – who MailOnline has chosen not to name – hid her face under black hoodie pulled over her head as she was led into court by a female police officer on Wednesday morning.
The woman ignored questions from reporters as she stepped from a police van at the court in Paralimni.
A 19-year-old British woman who accused 12 Israeli teens of gang-rape before changing her story to say they filmed her without her consent appeared in court in Cyprus Wednesday
The Briton was due before a judge to enter a plea on a single charge of public mischief, which could see her jailed for up to a year
Dressed all in black, the Briton is due to appear before a judge to enter a plea on a single charge of public mischief that carries a sentence of up to a year in prison.
In her original rape allegation, the woman claimed she was held down and assaulted by up to 12 teenagers at a hotel in the popular beach resort of Ayia Napa.
Three men admitted to having sex with the woman, but claimed it was consensual. DNA results showed they had sexual contact.
Police arrested 12 Israelis for questioning and took DNA samples.
Five were released after almost a week in custody and the other seven set free when the woman changed her story.
Police now say she has admitted to having consensual sex with three of the men, but became upset when some of the group filmed her without her consent.
The woman’s lawyers have argued that, while she is not the victim of rape as she first claimed, she is still the victim of revenge porn after footage of her sexual encounter ended up online
A British-based pressure group has also suggested that the girl was coerced into changing her story after an intense eight-hour questioning session by Cyprus police
The footage has since been circulated online and has ended up on porn sites.
While the Israeli teens returned home to a heroes welcome, the woman was arrested and held at a detention centre in Nicosia.
Her third court appearance comes after a UK-based lawyer said she only withdrew her allegation of gang rape after being coerced into changing her statement following eight hours of questioning at police station.
According to the Justice Abroad pressure group, the woman is alleged to have told friends and family members she was given a statement to sign saying she had made up the gang rape allegation.
A previous court hearing was adjourned and her appearance today will see the woman enter a plea.
One of the those accused of rape was able to prove he was not present by showing police a ‘selfie’ taken in bed with his girlfriend when the alleged rape took place.
Police in Cyprus have denied the woman was coerced into withdrawing her complaint.