A Chinese student who made up false rape claims against a serving policeman has been jailed and told she faces possible deportation.
Hao Li, 29, was warned by a judge that her conduct risked deterring ‘genuine victims from coming forward’.
A court also heard the accusation had a serious impact on the police officer, who was arrested and held in cells for 35 hours before being suspended for five months.
It was only due to the ‘foresight’ of the officer, who had set his phone to record an earlier conversation between the pair, that he was not charged with offence.
Li, a master’s degree student, was charged with perverting the course of justice but fled Britain before the case could be heard.
She was subsequently arrested at Manchester Airport after arriving on a return flight and remanded in custody last July.
Durham Crown Court heard the pair engaged in sexual activity in November 2024 – with her the ‘driving force’.
The officer, who was not on duty, had then driven her home when she rang police, accusing him of rape, and he was apprehended in his car half an hour later.
Hao Li, 29, was convicted because police officer’s phone had recorded their sexual encounter
Li, 29, formerly of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, denied three counts of perverting the course of justice but was convicted after a two-week trial in December.
WhatsApp messages she sent to the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted the rape allegation was false and asked for help to avoid getting into trouble.
Li, appearing before the court via video link from HMP Low Newton, was jailed for six years on Friday.
Sentencing, Judge Nathan Adams said: ‘You engaged in sexual activity with him but, clearly, you were the driving force in that activity.
‘Had it not been for the recording he made, he would have been charged with multiple counts of rape.
‘You maintained your insistence over the allegations, but you were clearly disbelieved at trial.’
Judge Adams added: ‘Rape is about the most serious allegation you can make. You know (police) would have to take your word for it.
‘Anyone making false complaints and proceeding with them creates a wider-still impact on genuine victims coming forward, with a further impact with him being a police officer.
Li was sentenced at Durham Crown Court having been found guilty of rape lies after a trial
‘I can’t downplay how serious these allegations were and the impact they had on the victim in this case.’
Duncan Bould, defending Li, who had no previous convictions and no issues with drugs or alcohol, she was considered a “low risk” of reoffending.
He added the convictions have ‘had a salutary effect on her.’
In addition to the prison term, Li was given a six-year restraining order, prohibiting contact or approached to the victim.
The judge told her she would serve about half of the six-year sentence in custody before being released on licence, when she will probably be deported to China.