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| Cyprus rape case: British teenager given suspended sentence | Cyprus rape case: British teenager given suspended sentence |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Nineteen-year-old woman convicted of lying will not go to prison after suspended sentence | Nineteen-year-old woman convicted of lying will not go to prison after suspended sentence |
| A British teenager who was convicted of lying about being gang-raped has been sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for three years. She was also fined €140 (£119) but is free to return home. | |
| The 19-year-old student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was ruled to have “wilfully indulged in public mischief” by claiming she was raped by a group of male Israeli tourists while on holiday in Ayia Napa last July. | The 19-year-old student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was ruled to have “wilfully indulged in public mischief” by claiming she was raped by a group of male Israeli tourists while on holiday in Ayia Napa last July. |
| The tourists, aged between 15 and 22, were allowed to fly home after she allegedly retracted the complaint. | The tourists, aged between 15 and 22, were allowed to fly home after she allegedly retracted the complaint. |
| “I have decided to give her a second chance,” the judge, Michalis Papathanasiou, told the packed courtroom, citing her age, psychological state and dependency on anti-depressants. | |
| The woman hugged her family and legal team and left court weeping, with her head in her hands, after she was sentenced for public mischief. | |
| Before the sentencing, dozens of protesters gathered outside Famagusta district court in Paralimni. They included a group of women who had travelled from Israel, who chanted “Cyprus justice, shame on you”, “stop blaming the victim” and “you are not alone”. Some held placards reading “we believe you” and “don’t be afraid”. | Before the sentencing, dozens of protesters gathered outside Famagusta district court in Paralimni. They included a group of women who had travelled from Israel, who chanted “Cyprus justice, shame on you”, “stop blaming the victim” and “you are not alone”. Some held placards reading “we believe you” and “don’t be afraid”. |
| A close friend of the family sitting next to the teenager’s mother in court said: “I suppose she is relieved to be going home but she will appeal.” | A close friend of the family sitting next to the teenager’s mother in court said: “I suppose she is relieved to be going home but she will appeal.” |
| The family is likely to fly back to the UK on Tuesday or Wednesday. | |
| The British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, said he has raised concerns over her treatment with the Cypriot authorities, after the teenager’s conviction provoked outrage in Cyprus and the UK. | |
| More follows … | More follows … |