A woman who ‘damaged the public perception of rape cases’ by falsely accusing a taxi driver of the crime has been jailed.
A trial jury previously heard how Haroon Yousaf was left broken by Laura Hood’s false allegation, which sparked a major police investigation.
Hood wrongly claimed the taxi driver had stopped his cab at the side of the road and then sexually assaulted her in the back seat whilst he was giving her a lift home following a drunken night out, a trial previously heard.
Police arrested Mr Yousaf, 29, in front of colleagues at a cab rank. He spent 20 hours in custody and had to give intimate samples before being released without charge.
A court previously heard that the dad-of-two is still affected by the ordeal.
Ina victim impact statement he said: "This is the most disgusting thing that anyone can be accused of.”
Another taxi driver with a similar number plate – who was also entirely innocent – was also arrested and subjected to questioning by police who were investigating Hood’s false claims.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard Hood had been asked to attend an identity parade which included both innocent men.
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They would have been ‘immediately absolved’ of any wrongdoing, but the defendant refused to attend.
A judge today (August 1) told Hood, 27, that her actions had struck at the heart of criminal justice and could damage the public perception of rape cases generally.
Jailing Hood for three years, Judge Julie Warburton told the defendant: “Rape is one of the most serious allegations that can be made about a man and making false allegations can ruin a person’s life overnight.”
She added: “Your actions have shown a blatant disregard for the rights of these men and the effects of making false allegations about people.
“This offence strikes at the heart of criminal justice and has a tendency to damage the public perception of the justice system and impact the administration of justice and rape cases generally.
“For these reasons I deem this offence so serious that only immediate custody can be justified.”
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Hood claimed that Mr Yousaf had stopped his cab at the side of the road and then sexually assaulted her in the back seat whilst he was giving her a lift home following a drunken night out.
During the trial a jury heard a statement from Mr Yousaf in which he said: ''This still affects me in my day-to-day life and I don't know if I will ever come back fully from this. Before this incident I was a strong person.
"However, I'm now negative and worry that things can go wrong.
"This is the most disgusting thing that anyone can be accused of.
"When I pick up single female passengers I always worry that something could happen again.
"I had to take my clothes off in front of a stranger. I had tears in my eyes. I don't think this female really understands what she has done and how it has affected my life."
Police suspected Mr Yousaf had been falsely accused when he gave details of a tracking device linked to the black cab which showed the vehicle had been driven straight to Hood's home in Stockport without stopping.
There was also no evidence of physical contact between them and Hood gave a statement claiming her attacker was 58.
The other suspect was also cleared of any wrongdoing and Hood was subsequently charged with faking her account.
It emerged she made her false claims of rape after losing her gold iPhone 5s and became separated from her friends.
She had been in Revolution Bar on Deansgate Locks drinking Prosecco, vodka shots and cider to celebrate a friend’s birthday in Manchester city centre on January 7, 2017.
She got into Mr Yousaf’s cab at 1.10am and asked to be taken home via a bank.
Mr Yousaf drove her to a Tesco Express where CCTV footage showed the taxi stopping at 1.22am as the defendant got out to use the cash machine, the court previously heard.
She got back into the vehicle and Mr Yousaf followed his sat nav to her home without stopping.
However, when she stepped into her house, Hood went upstairs to her mother and stepfather’s bedroom where she began sobbing uncontrollably and told them she had been raped.
The trail heard how Hood’s stepfather called the police.
Hood claimed her assailant was an Asian male, aged about 58 with a thin face, no beard and no facial hair and claimed she was attacked about five minutes after stopping at the cash point.
A specially trained officer attended the family home and found 'extremely distraught' Hood hiding under her bedding 'reluctant to engage'.
Human resources worker Hood was convicted of perverting the course of justice after a jury of nine women and three men took six hours to reach their 10-two majority guilty verdict.
She accepted no rape took place but denied insisting she had she 'believed' at the time she was sexually assaulted.
Thomas McKail, defending Hood, described his client as an 'intelligent, responsible, caring, loving and positive individual'.
“Up until these matters she was a woman of good character,” he said.
He told the judge that Hood – who has no previous convictions – suffers from mild depressive disorder and struggled to deal with the desperation of her separation and the death of her best friend as a child.
Mr McKail described Hood as a ‘capable young woman’ who has always worked and has a strong work ethic.
“She had lost her good character,” he added.
“That will have an enormous impact on her life and is something she will have to deal with head on.”
Jailing Hood, Judge Warburton said Mr Yousaf had been arrested in front of work colleagues, held in custody 20 hours and quizzed by detectives about Hood’s allegations.
He was unable to work as a taxi driver while the allegation hung over his head and believed he would have to give evidence in court until the day of trial, she said.
She added: “He found the whole experience harrowing and upsetting.”
