A STRATFORD teenager has been jailed over malicious social media messages – which she sent to herself.
Clarice Crothers, age 18 of Darlow Drive, Stratford went to the police to complain about upsetting malicious messages she said a young man had been sending to her social media account.
When it then became clear the person she was blaming was not responsible, she tried to put the blame onto another young man – who was in fact her accomplice.
Crothers sent messages included threats to harm her and her family, and also implied her home was being watched. On one day alone, she reported she had received over 100 messages.
The messages had been sent with her knowledge by Crothers and Daniel Hewitt, age 19 of Knights Lane, Tiddington, in an attempt to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend.
Daniel Hewitt was given a police caution for his involvement.
Appearing at Warwick Crown Court she pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, ordered to pay victim surcharge costs and given a five year restraining order against her ex-boyfriend.
Warwickshire Police Det Cons Sarah Niblett said: “This has been a complex and protracted investigation, which has demonstrated the consequences of making a false allegation to police.
“During this investigation, it was proven the defendant’s allegations were malicious, in order to try and get revenge on a former partner. This unacceptable behaviour has meant a considerable amount of police time and resources – which could have been spent investigating genuine crimes – was used to look into these false accusations.
“We would like to reassure genuine victims of crime that we will investigate every report made with diligence and impartiality, and would always encourage those who have a been a victim of an offence to please come forward and report it.”
