Stacey Sharples, 31, from Farnworth in Bolton, had pleaded guilty of ten counts of perverting the course of justice after accusing 10 men of rape and has now been jailed
A woman who made false claims of rape against 10 men has been jailed.
Stacey Sharples, 31, from Farnworth in Bolton, had pleaded guilty of ten counts of perverting the course of justice over the claims against the men and has now been jailed for four and half years.
The allegations were made between 2013 and 2019, with most of the men were arrested and spent time in custody, and some also had to undertake intimate examinations, said Greater Manchester Police.
A statement from the force read: “A woman has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison today (Wednesday 11 March 2026) after pleading guilty to making false rape allegations about several men from across Greater Manchester.
“Stacey Sharples, 31, from Farnworth in Bolton, pleaded guilty of ten counts of perverting the course of justice in relation to reports against ten separate men on Monday 2 February 2026 at Bolton Crown Court.”
It added: “There is no doubt of the impact these reports and arrests have had on the men, their sense of self and relationships, their wider networks and how they move forward.
“False accounts also undermine those who have genuinely experienced sexual violence and confidence in the criminal justice system. The time spent investigating Sharples’ reports could have been put towards investigating genuine reports of sexual offences.”
Detective Sergeant Steven Gilliland, who investigated this case, said, “No officer goes into a rape investigation with an intent to pursue the individual making that report, and we do not want genuine rape victims and survivors to think that is what will happen if they were to come forward.
“Genuinely, there is no better moment for a detective then when you secure a conviction for an offence such as rape, as it is amongst the most abhorrent of all offences and can cause lifelong trauma for those that experience it.
“We took the allegations made by Stacey Sharples seriously, explored all lines of enquiry and swiftly made arrests or interviewed of all the men she accused.
“We gave her multiple opportunities to provide further explanation or information to us, after interviews with the men and subsequent evidence uncovered didn’t align with her first recollection, as we understand that trauma can impact how victims and survivors recount their experiences.
“Ultimately, as the evidence continued to demonstrate that the reports were untrue, coupled with the desire for justice from some of the men who had been falsely accused, it was right that we followed the evidence and pursued the individual who had actually committed a criminal offence.
“I would like to pay tribute to the strength of these men, who have endured an experience no-one would ever wish to go through, and done so with dignity. I hope they feel a sense of justice for what happened to them today.
“To anyone out there who has been a victim of rape or any sexual offence, I plead that the actions of Miss Sharples do not stop you from seeking support, whether that be from police, a charity or support service.”
In impact statements the men have spoken about the trauma caused by the false allegations. One, Kaylum Davis said: “I want to say that this has affected me greatly. Some of my friends fell out with me over this accusation. I still think about this to this day.
“Now it’s all out in the open and her lies have caught up with her, it’s made me speak about it more as it’s easier to explain to people due to all the other individuals on this case has said their part, who were also wrongly accused.”
Andrew Dearden said: “Although I was released with no further action for the allegations, sometimes I start to think about them, and my depression starts to get worse. I then start thinking about how much easier life would be if I wasn’t here anymore.
“Incidents like what I have just described have happened to me more than once, they have a detrimental effect on my life and cause me to not look after myself.”
Another victim Andrew Jackson said: “Due to the allegations made in this investigation, I wasn’t allowed to see my daughter throughout the course of this. My relationship with my daughter is really important to me and the fact I wasn’t able to see her has had a significant impact on me.
“I have missed out on key milestones and everyday moments, not being able to fix the situation quickly has caused me intense frustration and to feel powerlessness. I have worried about court outcomes for so long for something I know that did not happen. Being a parent is central to my identity and separation from my daughter felt like losing a part of myself.”
While a further, Jack Byrne, said: “As a result of the allegation, I was signed off work due to stress and anxiety. I was unable to function normally and struggled with constant worry about my future, my reputation, and the possibility of losing everything I had built.
“The stress affected my sleep, my appetite, and my overall mental health. I felt depressed, isolated, and ashamed — even though I knew I was innocent.”
