A 15-year-old girl who lied to police about being sexually assaulted was yesterday given a youth caution.
The teenager, who cannot be named, told officers she had been attacked in Nuneaton, Warks., on May 12 this year.
But after officers investigated her claims they discovered she had invented the offence and yesterday she was given a youth caution for wasting police time.
Detective Sergeant Bob Jamieson, of Warwickshire Police, said: “The girl who made the report did so because of some personal issues in her life, for which she is now receiving appropriate support from relevant agencies.
“However, because of the amount of police time and resources spent on investigating this matter, she has also been punished by way of a youth caution for the offence of wasting police time.
“We want to reassure the public that this was not a sexual assault on a young girl and that Nuneaton is a relatively safe place to live and work in.
“Warwickshire Police will always take any sexual assault complaint very seriously.
“The investigation will be detailed, thorough and professional so it is vitally important that we are told the truth from the outset.”