Bolton woman jailed for false rape claims against ten men
Stacey Sharples admitted repeatedly making false allegations over six years
A woman from Bolton has been jailed after falsely accusing ten men of rape over a six-year period, leading to multiple arrests and serious consequences for those involved.
Stacey Sharples, a 31-year-old from Farnworth in Bolton, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison on Wednesday 11th March 2026 after pleading guilty to ten counts of perverting the course of justice at Bolton Crown Court.
The charges relate to false allegations made between 2013 and 2019 against ten different men across Greater Manchester. Most of the men were arrested and spent time in custody while investigations took place.
Police say the investigation was launched after officers discovered evidence that contradicted Sharples’ claims once all lines of enquiry had been explored.
Investigation uncovered false allegations
Greater Manchester Police said cases of this nature are extremely rare and the decision to pursue Sharples as a suspect was not taken lightly.
Officers said their duty is to act in the public interest based on the evidence available, which in this case showed what they described as a “continuous, wilful” pattern of false reporting.
Many of the men accused were placed on police bail or released under investigation while enquiries were carried out. Some also had to undergo intimate examinations as part of the process.
Police said the case highlights how seriously rape allegations are treated and that officers will always investigate reports made to them.
However, they also warned that false reports undermine victims who have genuinely experienced sexual violence and can damage confidence in the justice system.
Officer praises men who came forward
Detective Sergeant Steven Gilliland, who led the investigation, said: “No officer goes into a rape investigation with an intent to pursue the individual making that report, and we do not want genuine rape victims and survivors to think that is what will happen if they were to come forward.
“Genuinely, there is no better moment for a detective then when you secure a conviction for an offence such as rape, as it is amongst the most abhorrent of all offences and can cause lifelong trauma for those that experience it.
“We took the allegations made by Stacey Sharples seriously, explored all lines of enquiry and swiftly made arrests or interviewed of all the men she accused.
“We gave her multiple opportunities to provide further explanation or information to us, after interviews with the men and subsequent evidence uncovered didn’t align with her first recollection, as we understand that trauma can impact how victims and survivors recount their experiences.
“Ultimately, as the evidence continued to demonstrate that the reports were untrue, coupled with the desire for justice from some of the men who had been falsely accused, it was right that we followed the evidence and pursued the individual who had actually committed a criminal offence.
“I would like to pay tribute to the strength of these men, who have endured an experience no-one would ever wish to go through, and done so with dignity. I hope they feel a sense of justice for what happened to them today.”
He added: “To anyone out there who has been a victim of rape or any sexual offence, I plead that the actions of Miss Sharples do not stop you from seeking support, whether that be from police, a charity or support service.”
Victims describe lasting impact
Nine of the men falsely accused submitted victim impact statements describing how the allegations affected their lives, relationships and mental health.
Kaylum Davis said: “I want to say that this has affected me greatly. Some of my friends fell out with me over this accusation. I still think about this to this day.
"Now it’s all out in the open and her lies have caught up with her, it’s made me speak about it more as it’s easier to explain to people due to all the other individuals on this case has said their part, who were also wrongly accused."
Andrew Dearden said the experience worsened his mental health. He said: “Although I was released with no further action for the allegations, sometimes I start to think about them, and my depression starts to get worse. I then start thinking about how much easier life would be if I wasn’t here anymore.
"Incidents like what I have just described have happened to me more than once, they have a detrimental effect on my life and cause me to not look after myself.”
Astron Inman described the emotional toll the allegations took on his life. He said: “Words can’t describe the torment my head has gone through. I moved to Sweden not long after to re-evaluate my life and wasn’t a part of my children's lives for a couple of years.
“My love life had dramatically fallen, I have been single ever since and I find it hard how to approach the opposite sex.”
Support services available
Police are urging anyone who has experienced sexual violence to seek help and support.
Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides medical examinations and emotional support for men, women and children who have been sexually assaulted. The service operates twenty-four hours a day and can be contacted on 0161 276 6515.
Greater Manchester Rape Crisis offers confidential information, support and counselling for women over eighteen who have experienced rape or sexual abuse. They can be contacted on 0161 273 4500 or by email at [email protected]
We Are Survivors provides specialist trauma-informed support for male victims of sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester. Their helpline is 0161 236 2182.