Stacy Sharples

Stacy Sharples, a 31-year-old woman from Farnworth, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court for making a series of false allegations of rape and sexual assault against ten innocent men between 2013 and 2019. Described by Judge Nicholas Clarke KC as a 'sexual predator', Sharples confessed to ten counts of perverting the course of justice, actions that profoundly disrupted the lives of her victims, leading to arrests, job losses, broken relationships, and severe mental health struggles.

The offences spanned six years, during which Sharples repeatedly fabricated claims of serious sexual crimes, resulting in the men facing police investigations, public arrests, and prolonged uncertainty. For instance, Kaylum Davies was first falsely accused 13 years ago and spoke publicly after the hearing about the relief of the truth emerging. Jack Byrne and Andrew Jackson, who shared a flat in Chadderton at the time of the accusation, endured significant stress; Byrne was signed off work due to anxiety and depression, while Jackson was barred from seeing his daughter, missing key milestones in her life. He stated, '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.'

• Reece Lockett and Connor Austen were falsely accused of sexual assault during a trip to a reservoir; Lockett was disowned by his parents, lost his partner and job, and suffered constant anxiety, saying, 'My life was turned upside down the day I was falsely accused of rape.'
• Austen similarly lost his home, partner, and employment, noting ongoing trust issues in relationships: 'She ruined seven years of my life.'
• Andrew Dearden endured a public arrest and waited five months for charges to be dropped, exacerbating his depression to the point of suicidal thoughts.
• Astron Inman spent eight hours in custody and later moved to Sweden, becoming estranged from his children and struggling with personal relationships: 'Words can’t describe the torment my head has gone through.'

During the court hearing, Sharples appeared unrepentant, reportedly laughing and smiling in the dock, which further outraged the victims. Judge Clarke sentenced her to 54 months in prison, a custodial term that many victims felt was insufficient compared to the potential sentences they could have faced if convicted on her lies. The case was reported by The Bolton News, with contributions from affected individuals who shared their stories post-hearing. Greater Manchester Police investigated the matter, leading to Sharples' prosecution at Bolton Crown Court in the Greater Manchester area.