Sandra Ntonya had falsely accused former Sale Sharks and England rugby union star Marland Yarde of rape in 2021 who was investigated for five months, before prosecutors brought no charges
An “attention seeking narcissist” who waged an online campaign including lies of rape against a rugby union star, leaving his career in tatters, has avoided jail.
Former Sale Sharks and England star Marland Yarde first came into contact with Sandra Ntonya on a night out in Manchester and ‘paid her for her services’ after leaving his partner. Manchester Crown Court heard they would only talk during visits to her home and never had sex.
During one visit, he gave another woman a ‘hoodie’ and put her to bed so she could sleep, the court was told. During the early hours, following a call by the defendant, police went to the home and arrested Mr Yarde on suspicion of raping the woman to whom he had given the hoodie, prosecutor Jack Troup told the court, Manchester Evening News reported. The detective who arrived ‘noted the defendant had called the national press before calling the police’, the prosecutor said.
Mr Yarde remained in custody and was only released under investigation at 2am the following day, with officers taking him back to his own home. When he returned to training for Sale Sharks he was informed the defendant had ‘sold her story to the Daily Mail who were to publish a story’, said Mr Troup.
Mr Yarde returned to his parents’ home in Surrey and the story had a ‘devastating impact’ on his career, although he was not named in press reports at the time. He remained ‘under investigation’ for five months’ until prosecutors decided to bring no charges’, the court was told.
Despite the decision, Mr Yarde’s rugby union career in England ‘was over’ and he moved to France, which meant he could no longer be considered for selection for England, the court was told. A series of ‘negative’ social media posts penned by the defendant were shown in court, including when she was ‘angered by the fact she had been arrested’ and after it was decided to take no action against Mr Yarde, Mr Troup said. Among the posts was a video of Mr Yarde’s car including its registration leaving her home.
She continued to post messages online branding him a ‘rapist’ which referenced Mr Yarde ‘indirectly or directly’, said the prosecutor. In one tweet, she is said to have written ‘gangsters may not dance to your tune at this point’ as ‘they may feel sickened’. She also called him a ‘dangerous predator – period’.
Mr Yarde was not in court, but he wrote a victim impact statement which was referenced in court. Mr Troup said the impact was ‘profound’ on the player, saying that following the allegations his contract was terminated and his mental health suffered.
Mr Yarde was said to have sought the help of a psychiatrist and ‘contemplated suicide’. His relationships with a number of charities in England also came to an end, the court was told. Mr Yarde’s move to France meant he had limited contact with his young daughter, the prosecutor said.
Ntonya escaped a prison sentence for stalking when she appeared at Manchester Crown Court after the judge heard there was a ‘realistic prospect’ of rehabilitation and immediate jail would see her young son ‘suffer’. Malawi-born Ntonya, representing herself in court, repeatedly apologised, but said had been ‘under a lot of distress in [her] life’ at the time she made the 999 call and was arrested herself. She insisted she was ‘under enormous turmoil’. “For me it was a cry out for help,” she told the court.
She said she had formed a ‘bond’ with the player which developed ‘apart from the sexual side’. Ntonya said she had been a ‘responsible citizen’ who had previously reported matters to the police which ‘maybe could have caused havoc’. The defendant added: “I just want to say sorry to Marland.”
Judge John Potter told the defendant: “The victim of your stalking behaviour was a man called Marland Yarde. Mr Yarde is a professional rugby player. He has played rugby union at the highest level, representing the English national team on more than one occasion.
Judge Potter said the defendant was ‘an intelligent woman’ with ‘some insight’ into her crimes, handing her a 20-month prison sentence, he suspended for two years. He concluded there was a ‘realistic prospect of rehabilitation’ and her young son would ‘suffer’ if he imposed an immediate jail sentence.
He also ordered Ntonya to complete a six-month mental health treatment programme and 15 days of rehabilitation activity. She was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. Judge Potter imposed a restraining order preventing Ntonya from contacting Mr Yarde or posting about him online.
Ntonya, of Gorton, Manchester, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a single count of stalking by posting a series of posts about Mr Yarde online between January 2021 and March 2023 said to have caused her victim ‘serious alarm and distress’.
