This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50072902

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ayia Napa: 'False rape claim' statement 'not proper English' Ayia Napa: 'False rape claim' statement 'not proper English'
(about 5 hours later)
A British teenager accused of lying about being raped has said her statement withdrawing the claims was "not in proper English" and there was "no way" she would have written it.A British teenager accused of lying about being raped has said her statement withdrawing the claims was "not in proper English" and there was "no way" she would have written it.
The 19-year-old woman, who cannot be identified, told the court that police forced her to make the statement.The 19-year-old woman, who cannot be identified, told the court that police forced her to make the statement.
She is on trial in Cyprus accused of causing public mischief by allegedly falsely claiming to have been raped by 12 Israeli men in Ayia Napa on 17 July.She is on trial in Cyprus accused of causing public mischief by allegedly falsely claiming to have been raped by 12 Israeli men in Ayia Napa on 17 July.
She denies the charge.She denies the charge.
The woman, who is giving evidence at Famagusta District Court in Paralimni, broke down in tears as she was cross-examined for more than three hours on Wednesday.The woman, who is giving evidence at Famagusta District Court in Paralimni, broke down in tears as she was cross-examined for more than three hours on Wednesday.
According to her testimony, she was gang raped in a hotel room in the resort but 10 days later she says police forced her to retract the statement.According to her testimony, she was gang raped in a hotel room in the resort but 10 days later she says police forced her to retract the statement.
Prosecutors say she willingly wrote and signed the statement, which was brought out in court.Prosecutors say she willingly wrote and signed the statement, which was brought out in court.
'Doesn't make grammatical sense''Doesn't make grammatical sense'
Giving evidence, the woman said: "This is not in proper English. This is in Greek English.Giving evidence, the woman said: "This is not in proper English. This is in Greek English.
"I'm very well educated. I'm going to university, I got an unconditional offer so there is no way I would write a paragraph like this.""I'm very well educated. I'm going to university, I got an unconditional offer so there is no way I would write a paragraph like this."
Her lawyers say she was told what to write by Cypriot police, led by Detective Sergeant Marios Christou, and the teenager made the statement fearing she would be kidnapped or killed.Her lawyers say she was told what to write by Cypriot police, led by Detective Sergeant Marios Christou, and the teenager made the statement fearing she would be kidnapped or killed.
"It doesn't make grammatical sense," the teenager said."It doesn't make grammatical sense," the teenager said.
"All the way through there isn't one sentence an English person would write.""All the way through there isn't one sentence an English person would write."
She broke down in court as she said she had lied to her mother in a text sent from the police station, when she messaged: "Trust me, I'm OK."She broke down in court as she said she had lied to her mother in a text sent from the police station, when she messaged: "Trust me, I'm OK."
She told the court: "I think any child will lie to their parents to tell them they are OK because parents don't stop worrying about their child.She told the court: "I think any child will lie to their parents to tell them they are OK because parents don't stop worrying about their child.
"If your child had just been raped by 12 Israelis and wouldn't get out of bed and had a throat so swollen she couldn't breathe and was taken to the police station for what she thought was an hour but then went on to be nearly eight hours.""If your child had just been raped by 12 Israelis and wouldn't get out of bed and had a throat so swollen she couldn't breathe and was taken to the police station for what she thought was an hour but then went on to be nearly eight hours."
'Felt threatened for my life' In court
By Anna Holligan, BBC News
She stood through hours of intensive cross examination inside the claustrophobic courtroom.
The only point at which the teenager's composure crumbled was when the prosecutor asked about her relationship with her mother.
"We're like best friends. She's incredibly strong. She raised me, a single parent. I tell my mum everything."
Her mum looked on from the cramped wooden benches.
The woman also said she had previously suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after an accident, and has been experiencing renewed symptoms following the alleged rape.The woman also said she had previously suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after an accident, and has been experiencing renewed symptoms following the alleged rape.
She added that she also had to take eight tablets a day, including HIV prevention medication.She added that she also had to take eight tablets a day, including HIV prevention medication.
"After it happened, even if a man was within a metre of me it would make me feel horrible, but they wouldn't make me feel threatened for my life," she said, adding that she felt "vulnerable" by the way Detective Sergeant Christou "was approaching me and shouting at me to stop crying"."After it happened, even if a man was within a metre of me it would make me feel horrible, but they wouldn't make me feel threatened for my life," she said, adding that she felt "vulnerable" by the way Detective Sergeant Christou "was approaching me and shouting at me to stop crying".
"I felt like I was in danger because he wasn't going by the law, I wasn't allowed a lawyer," she added."I felt like I was in danger because he wasn't going by the law, I wasn't allowed a lawyer," she added.
"I immediately assumed corruption and conspiracy so I wouldn't put it past him, I wouldn't be surprised if at that moment he would have kidnapped me and killed me.""I immediately assumed corruption and conspiracy so I wouldn't put it past him, I wouldn't be surprised if at that moment he would have kidnapped me and killed me."
Twelve young Israelis were arrested in connection with the allegations but were later released and have returned home.Twelve young Israelis were arrested in connection with the allegations but were later released and have returned home.
The woman was granted bail at the end of August, after spending four and a half weeks in prison. She cannot leave the island.The woman was granted bail at the end of August, after spending four and a half weeks in prison. She cannot leave the island.
She could face up to a year in prison and a 1,700 euro (about £1,500) fine if she is found guilty.She could face up to a year in prison and a 1,700 euro (about £1,500) fine if she is found guilty.