MATTHEW PRICE FROM LEEDS FOUND GUILTY OF FALSE RAPE CLAIM AT BRAMLEY CARE HOME
In a case that has drawn significant attention, Matthew Price, a 23-year-old resident of Leeds, has been convicted of making a false rape allegation against an employee at a care facility in Bramley.The incident, which took place between 2004 and 2008, involved Price accusing a key worker at the Apple Orchard care home on Birtley Road of sexually assaulting him on multiple occasions while he was a resident there.
Price, who was already serving time in prison at the time of the allegations, was brought to trial at Guildford Crown Court.
After a week-long hearing, the jury reached a verdict of guilty by an 11 to one majority, finding him guilty of perverting the course of justice.
The court's decision was announced last Wednesday.
During the trial, it was revealed that Price had been placed at the Apple Orchard care home as a 14-year-old, following a history of sexual abuse by his father, who was convicted for his crimes.
The care home supports adolescent boys who have been affected by sexually inappropriate behaviour, and Price’s allegations centered around a specific incident where he claimed the key worker entered his bedroom to check its tidiness, then proceeded to sit down and teach him guitar chords before allegedly pinning him down and raping him.
He further claimed that similar assaults occurred in his room on other occasions.
The allegations first came to light in 2010 when Price confided in the prison chaplain at Glan Parva, a young offenders institute located in Leicester.
The police investigation into the claims led to the suspension of the accused key worker for five months; however, the worker was later reinstated to his position at the care home.
During court proceedings, the prosecution questioned the key worker about the credibility of Price’s claims.
When asked whether anything had happened that could have led Price to believe he had been raped, the witness responded unequivocally, “Absolutely not.” It was also revealed that Price had a history of dishonesty, having previously pleaded guilty twice to charges of perverting the course of justice.
His past false accusations included claiming that a neighbour had stolen a £5,000 necklace from him, and that his ex-girlfriend had assaulted him.
The first false claim was made after the neighbour threatened to inform social services that Price would be an unfit father to his unborn child.
The second was driven by feelings of anger and upset after his ex-girlfriend’s infidelity.
Matthew Price is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8, and the case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of false allegations and the importance of integrity in the justice system.
