A TEENAGER who concocted a false story about being kidnapped by a gang of six men walked free from court yesterday.
The 16-year-old told police she was abducted by a gang including Imtiaz Ali — an innocent man arrested and held in custody for almost 19 hours.
Joanne Sear, prosecuting at Oxford Youth Court, said the teenager claimed she was pulled into a car by two men in Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, on April 6 last year. She said she was kept at a house in Howard Street against her will.
The teenager, who the prosecution claim had got into the car willingly, also picked Mr Ali out in an identity parade.
More than 190 hours of police officers’ time was spent on the investigation before the teenager was arrested in April 2008. She admitted perverting the course of justice.
District Judge Deborah Wright refusedto lift restrictions on identifying the girl and gave her a one-year referral order to the youth offending team and ordered her to pay £250 costs.
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