A student has been jailed for 16 months after she falsely accused a Muslim taxi driver of sexual assault after he declined to accept cash that was covered in kebab grease.
Sophie Pointon, 22, left the taxi driver’s life in ruins after making the false accusation which began when he refused to accept a kebab-soaked £10 note.
She received a 16-month sentence following her conviction.
Prosecutor Kate Bisset said the accused was interviewed, where he claimed Ms Pointon was “extremely drunk” and was holding a kebab the night he picked her up.
The driver who is a devout Muslim, said he refused to accept the money after the student threw it at him because it was covered in oil from a kebab.
The father of five was kept in custody for six hours and prevented from working for four weeks.
He told the court: “I am now extremely reluctant to take lone females in case I am accused again.
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“The girl who accused me is the same age as my own daughter – I cannot comprehend why she made this allegation.
“I feel religiously tainted from this, and no help from the police or the courts can help that.”
Describing the stress he suffered as a result of the fake claim, he added: “Friends stopped speaking to me and letting me in to their homes.”
Ms Pointon’s lies were untangled thanks to the information from the taxi’s GPRS.
As police challenged Pointon’s account during the trial, she reportedly broke down in tears in court and asked whether she could drop the charges against the man.
She later pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to 16 months in jail.
Judge Christopher Batty told the student: “Your malicious complaint has done a huge disservice to those seeking justice through the police and courts.”
