Female student going to prison after falsely accusing taxi driver of sexual assault

Sophie Pointon, a 22-year-old British criminology student and aspiring police officer, falsely accused a taxi driver of sexual assault, and was sentenced to 16 months in jail as a result of her false report.

According to the United Kingdom's Telegraph, Pointon accused the cab driver of a sex attack in Leeds, England, after he refused to accept cash that was covered in kebab grease.

What happened the night of the supposed attack?

Pointon, who was intoxicated at the time, told police in April that a cab driver molested her in the back of his vehicle when he picked her up one evening after a night out. When Pointon returned home, she phoned local police and filed the false report against the driver.

Police held the driver for several hours after he was brought in for questioning over Pointon's accusation. The driver could not work for four weeks as a result of  the investigation.

Throughout the investigation, the driver professed his innocence and told investigators that Pointon was "extremely drunk" when he picked her up for transport. He added that after he refused to take the greasy payment, Pointon became angered and "abusive," and ran around the car, opening the vehicle's doors.

What happened at the trial?

During the trial, Pointon broke down in tears repeatedly and requested that charges against the cab driver be dropped.

Evidence supporting the driver's defense included a GPS tracker, which had been fitted to the vehicle. The GPS record contradicted Pointon's original account of events.

After pleading guilty to perversion of justice, Pointon was sentenced to 16 months in jail.

Presiding Judge Christopher Batty told Pointon, "Your malicious complaint has done a huge disservice to those seeking justice through the police and courts."

Pointon complained that her hopes of becoming a police officer had been "ruined" as a result of the false accusation.