Sentencing has been deferred in the case of Lurgan woman who twice falsely reported she had been raped.
Sharon Linda Adams, from Frederick Place, was described as “a prolific hoax caller” and all previous court disposals for her behaviour have failed.
The 53-year-old admitted two sets of charges just months apart by making a false report on her safety and contending she had been raped by an unknown male on July 3, 2022.
Three months later on October 22, 2022 she again falsely claiming to have been raped by an unknown male.
Craigavon Magistrates’ Court heard that in the first instance police received a report of rape and attempted strangulation, from a woman named ‘Samantha’ who claimed she was lying outside a filling station in Lurgan but refused to provide further details.
She ended the call by saying, “I hope you find me soon.”
Officers immediately searched various locations in an attempt to find her.
Meanwhile, a further call was received from a concerned member of the public who had found a female lying on the ground outside what transpired to be Adams’s address and an ambulance was tasked.
Enquiries revealed her to be a “prolific hoax caller” to police who used the name Samantha when she did so.
Officers spoke with her through an open window as, initially, she refused to let them in.
She subsequently handed over her phone, but it was suspected she had deleted the calls.
The call recordings were listened to and confirmed to be Adams after which she was arrested.
She was highly intoxicated but was found uninjured following assessment by ambulance staff.
When told this, Adams collapsed, but on further assessment was found to be fit to be taken into custody.
A short time after arrival she claimed to have Covid and had an apparent seizure, leading police to take her straight to hospital.
She initially engaged with medical staff but then locked herself in a bathroom and lay on the floor.
Once deemed fit she was returned to custody, insisting she had no memory of her behaviour as she was intoxicated.
She was released on bail to allow for her phone to be examined.
The second incident occurred while this investigation was underway, when Adams made an anonymous call informing police she had been raped two hours beforehand.
She claimed she was waiting for a taxi outside her home when she was approached by a homeless male whom she invited in to sleep on her sofa.
However, she claimed this male raped her, but when informed police were on their way stated they, “weren’t welcome and wouldn’t get in”.
Adams then wished to “take back the complaint and didn’t want it investigated but denied making it all up”.
When officers arrived, she denied phoning police and told them to go away, then eventually confirmed she had made the report.
Adams continued to claim a male had been aggressive and warned her “not to give police her name” but when questioned further she was vague with her answers.
A defence barrister said Adams has significant issues with alcohol but is now engaging with services.
He conceded there is a prolific record for the same offences and the court’s options are running out.
It was noted she has served a custodial term in the meantime but the current matters pre-date that particular offending.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “Just about everything has been tried from Probation to a prison sentences. Nothing seems to work.”
However, given there has been no further offending since serving the custodial term, the judge decided to defer sentencing to allow Adams to show she can stay out of trouble.
The case will return to court on February 12.
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