Force that charged woman who accused policeman of rape investigated
A police force that charged a woman with perverting the course of justice after she reported being raped by a policeman is to be investigated.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has confirmed it will look into the actions of Warwickshire Police and how officers handled the case.
Ruth, not her real name, was charged in November 2020, nine months after she made her initial report, enduring a three-year battle to clear her name.
Warwickshire Police said it was unable to comment while the investigation took place.
The IOPC's inquiry is in the early stages but is likely to address whether any officers who worked on Ruth's case should face disciplinary proceedings.
Ruth reported the alleged rape in early 2020, seven months after she and her ex-partner had split up.
She was interviewed by two female officers and the suspect, a constable with West Midlands Police, was arrested and questioned.
But within weeks he was told there would be no further action against him, and Ruth was investigated instead.
A secret recording
At her trial in April 2023, the prosecution said Ruth's initial consent, Whatsapp messages she had sent previously and her behaviour straight after the sexual encounter were proof she was lying.
It also relied on a transcript of a recording her ex had covertly made of the encounter on his mobile phone.
He had given it to Warwickshire officers claiming it was proof Ruth had consented to a specific sex act throughout and even enjoyed herself.
But Ruth's defence barrister played the audio in court after having it analysed.
The voices heard laughing on the recording belonged to actors in a pornography film that was playing in the background.
'Non-consensual'
Ruth, who acknowledged she had initially consented to the sex act, can be heard saying she wanted her partner to stop if it hurt.
She was then heard saying she was in pain and telling her partner "no" and "get it out".
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 states a person can lay down conditions when consenting to sex - but if violated, the sex is considered non-consensual.
Ruth was cleared by the jury in just over an hour.
After the case, Judge Andrew Lockhart KC asked the force to refer itself to the IOPC. This did not happen.
Ruth filed an official complaint that the original rape report had not been fully investigated, officers had failed to consider all the evidence and she had been wrongly charged.
The initial report of rape did get reviewed but it was concluded the officer would still not face any charges.
He has been suspended from West Midlands Police since 2023 and is due to face a misconduct hearing later this year in connection with recording Ruth without her consent.
The Warwickshire force, however, concluded in July 2025 that its officers' conduct had been "satisfactory" but that it had "highlighted some organisational learning".
A West Midlands charity acting for Ruth approached the IOPC in October last year to ask it to look at her case.
An IOPC spokesperson said it had "reviewed Warwickshire Police's handling of a complaint related to a rape investigation it undertook following an allegation made in 2020".
"Having thoroughly examined the circumstances, we have upheld the review and decided it's appropriate for us to independently investigate the woman's complaints.
"Our investigation is in its initial stages, and its precise scope will be determined soon."
Warwickshire Police said: "The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the original complaint and it would therefore be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time."
The force previously said the decision to charge Ruth had been taken in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.
It added that it takes "all reports of rape extremely seriously and does everything it can to support victims of rape" and had also "invested more resources into rape allegations".
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