By Charlie Charalambous
THE 31-YEAR-OLD wife of a British army officer stationed in Cyprus was yesterday fined £250 after pleading guilty to making a false rape claim.
Caroline Ann Morgan was taken to a Limassol district court yesterday, where she pleaded guilty to causing public mischief after telling police she had been raped by an unknown attacker.
“I did not set out to mislead the police. I had drunk a lot. I have a small girl whom I love very much. That’s all,” a nervous Morgan whispered to the court before being fined.
She hurriedly left court with a senior army officer and a leather jacket draped over her head. Her NCO husband did not attend the hearing.
Her actions were roundly condemned by the British Bases.
“We are very pleased the Cyprus legal system has taken its course and the appropriate punishment given. We don’t condone such behaviour,” said bases spokesman Rob Need.
The relatively light punishment – the maximum penalty for wasting police time is £1,000 and/or a one year jail term – was because the accused had a clean record and had admitted to the offence.
“The allegations of the accused caused Limassol CID and Bases police to use considerable and unnecessary time and resources; her claim may have implicated another person with severe consequences,” said judge Despo Michaelidou yesterday.
Police launched a manhunt after Morgan alleged she had been raped on a Limassol beach after leaving a disco last Sunday morning. But when police took her to the scene earlier this week, and started to ask questions, she withdrew her complaint.
On Thursday, she was charged with wasting police time.
“She made a statement to police saying she had problems with her memory and with her drinking. She was charged and did not respond,” said the judge.
It is understood that police possess a CCTV picture of the woman leaving the Limassol disco with a man, and also had testimony from a taxi driver, who said he took the couple to the beach.
The witness gave a police statement saying he took Morgan back alone to the married quarters at Episkopi garrison when she had “finished”.
“He also described how she injured herself to the face when she fell over getting out of the taxi,” said the judge, explaining how Morgan suffered her injuries which were supposedly rape-related.
The woman’s husband was in the UK on a military training course at the time of the alleged incident, but relations with his wife were said to be “strained” on his recent return.
