A teenage woman was told she needs to prepare herself for a potential prison sentence after admitting making two false rape allegations, last year.

The warning was given to Chloe Anderson before she left the dock at Durham Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to two counts of doing acts tending or intended to pervert the course of justice.

Appearing at a plea hearing in the case, the 19-year-old defendant admitted both charges, relating to false rape allegations, made between March 16, in one case, and May 14, in the other, and July 3, 2023.

Jonathan Walker, representing her, told the court: “She turns 20 next month and only has a single previous caution against her name, so she is of, effectively, good past character.”

The Northern Echo:

Mr Walker said there is something of a psychiatric background to the case and the defendant has been subject of mental health intervention.

He told the court she has an appointment with a forensic psychiatrist arranged in the middle of next month as it is an area that ought to be explored prior to sentencing in the case.

“It would provide a level of comfort to have it explored."

The Northern Echo:

Judge Jo Kidd said she felt it was a suitable case for the court to order its own psychiatric report via the court service’s diversity and inclusion team, which would provide a speedier response than the defence awaiting an appointment with a forensic psychiatrist in mid-June.

The judge said upon preparation of the report she wanted the Probation Service to add a brief report based on the findings.

Addressing Anderson, Judge Kidd told her: “There’s a clear psychiatric background and the ins and outs may be relevant, so I’ll order the report and you must be back at court in July.

“The fact that I’m adjourning the case for sentence shouldn’t be taken as any indication by you as to any sentence that might be passed in this case.

“You need to prepare yourself for a prison sentence.”

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Judge Kidd urged Anderson to meet any appointments made for her and to co-operate with the preparation of reports.

She said the defendant must also keeping in touch with her firm of solicitors.

The judge bailed the defendant, to return to court for the scheduled sentencing hearing on Friday July 5.