Seaford: Bishopstone layby knife attack 'victim' arrested

Police launched a major investigation after the 31-year-old woman dialled 999 on a mobile phone from the A259 Bishopstone layby between Newhaven and Seaford.

She claimed she had been dragged into bushes by an unseen attacker and subjected to a knifepoint ordeal.

Detective Inspector Tim Guyton, who led the investigation, confirmed the woman had been arrested.

He said: She has been arrested and bailed until August 17 in connection with the offence of wasting police time.

He added: It has been a major inquiry. Hundreds of hours of police time have been spent following up information from this investigation as well as time spent on forensic examinations.

After the alleged attack on Easter Saturday police appealed for information from witnesses and even produced a knife identical to the one claimed to have been used in the attack.

No witnesses came forward and police, who had become suspicious about the authenticity of the claim, confronted the woman about the incident.

The woman had been unable to give any description of her attacker and the occupants of another vehicle in the layby neither heard nor saw any signs of a struggle.

Police would not confirm whether the woman had admitted to fabricating the attack saying only that charges could be brought following further investigations.

Published: 14.6.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd