Victim of Natasha Foster rape slur is spared court date

Natasha Foster falsely accused a man of raping her

Photopress Belfast

Natasha Foster falsely accused a man of raping her

November 20 2013 02:16 AM

A man falsely accused of raping a young mother has been spared facing her in court after a judge said he was "uncomfortable" about calling him as a witness.

Natasha Foster told police she had suffered a serious sexual assault in November 2011.

But as the investigation into her claims got under way, the 23-year-old, from Ballymena, Co Antrim, admitted she had lied about the attack.

She was subsequently charged with perverting the course of justice for knowingly making a false statement to police. She pleaded guilty to the offence in September.

Ahead of sentencing, her legal team had requested a Newton hearing which would have involved Foster and her victim giving their version of events.

Judge Desmond Marrinan has ruled against such a move. "It is not appropriate and I also want to protect the victim. To be honest, I am uncomfortable with it."

Foster will be sentenced later this week for perverting the course of justice by knowingly providing a false statement to police about the incident she alleged took place in November 2011.