Woman jailed for four years after making 'untrue' rape allegations about 10 men

The accusations, which Sharples made over a six-year period between 2013 and 2019, resulted in the majority of the men being taken into custody.

Several were subjected to intimate medical examinations, while nearly all spent time either on police bail or released under investigation as officers pursued her claims.

Greater Manchester Police described the case as extremely rare.

The investigation into Sharples began after detectives arrested or questioned almost all of the accused men and found that evidence consistently contradicted her accounts.

Police stated that the decision to treat Sharples as a suspect was not taken lightly, given how uncommon such investigations are.

However, officers said they had a duty to act on the evidence uncovered, which demonstrated "a continuous, wilful making of false allegations, knowing full well the consequences for each of the men involved".

The force emphasised that the thoroughness of their initial response to Sharples' reports showed how seriously they treat allegations of rape.

Police acknowledged there was no doubt about the devastating impact these false reports and subsequent arrests had on the men's sense of self, their relationships, and their wider social networks.

Nine of the falsely accused men provided victim impact statements to the court, revealing the profound damage Sharples' lies inflicted on their lives.

Reece Lockett said: "My life was turned upside down the day I was falsely accused of rape. My mum and dad disowned me. My partner of five years left me. I lost my part-time job."

Mr Lockett described feeling "labelled" and afraid to walk around his own neighbourhood, with strangers on Facebook accusing him of crimes he never committed. Connor Austen lost his home, his partner and his employment as a result of the allegations.

"I lost my job and couldn't get another one," he said. "She ruined seven years of my life."

Another victim described how his life went from "the best it had ever been" to becoming homeless following his arrest.

Astron Inman relocated to Sweden in the aftermath of the accusations, spending years away from his children as he tried to rebuild his life.

Mr Inman said: "Words can't describe the torment my head has gone through...My love life had dramatically fallen, I have been single ever since and I find it hard how to approach the opposite sex."

Andrew Jackson was prevented from seeing his daughter throughout the investigation, missing key milestones in her life.

"Being a parent is central to my identity and separation from my daughter felt like losing a part of myself," he said.

Jack Byrne was signed off work with stress and anxiety, struggling with sleep, appetite and depression despite knowing his innocence.

Andrew Dearden revealed the allegations worsened his depression, causing him to contemplate whether life would be easier if he was no longer alive.

Detective Sergeant Steven Gilliland, who led the investigation, praised the courage of those who were wrongly accused.

"I would like to pay tribute to the strength of these men, who have endured an experience no-one would ever wish to go through, and done so with dignity," he said. "I hope they feel a sense of justice for what happened to them today."

He urged genuine victims of sexual offences not to be deterred from coming forward by Sharples' actions.

DS Gilliland said: "To anyone out there who has been a victim of rape or any sexual offence, I plead that the actions of Miss Sharples do not stop you from seeking support, whether that be from police, a charity or support service."

Police noted that fabricated claims undermine genuine survivors of sexual violence and divert investigative resources away from real cases.