False sex assault teenager set to give birth in jail
http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/ ... ticle.html.
A PREGNANT teenager is set to give birth behind bars after being locked up for falsely accusing a taxi driver of sexually assaulting her.
Judge David Pugsley said what Rosie Waggett did was "wicked" and sentenced her to eight months' custody. He said the 18-year-old's sentence would have been longer but for her pregnancy and previous good character. Her baby is due on New Year's Eve.
During the trial last month, Waggett denied perverting the course of justice but a jury found her guilty. The jury heard how Waggett claimed cab driver Mohammed Afsar had grabbed her thigh on a taxi journey and made sexual remarks.
Derby Crown Court heard that Waggett had told police Mr Afsar had grabbed her leg and said: "If I don't get my money off you, I don't get sex off my wife. If I don't get sex off her then I have to get it somewhere."
Abi Joyce, prosecuting, said Waggett, of Ednaston Avenue, Littleover, had tried to avoid paying the taxi fare. Miss Joyce said the teenager only had 49p when she got into the taxi and had told an acquaintance that if she was made to pay the full fare she would say the driver had tried to rape her.
She made the allegation at about 6.30am on January 17. Mr Afsar was arrested shortly afterwards and kept in police custody for nine hours.
At the sentencing yesterday, Miss Joyce said that PJ Cars employee Mr Afsar said the allegations had had a huge impact on his life.
She said: "He said he felt humiliated. He said it was a degrading experience. He said he was 42 and had never experienced anything like it.
"He said his wife and young children were also upset. He said he could not face his community, that he thought everyone would be thinking about the allegations. He said he will always fear what people think of him."
When Judge Pugsley mentioned in court that her child would be born in prison, Waggett broke down in tears.
In mitigation, Richard Thatcher said Waggett's actions could be explained by her age.
He said: "While some may say what she did was wicked, it may well be that it was stupid or immature. She was of good character."
Sentencing Waggett, Judge Pugsley said: "One of the consequences of making that allegation is that the mud sticks.
"That man was innocent. He was not acquitted – you were convicted. The jurors returned a verdict of guilty in an hour, which is somewhat rare.
"However, I am not going to pass a sentence I originally intended which would have been termed in years.
"I only hope that the fact that you are a woman of good character means that you will never ever make this type of allegation again."
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