Girls to write letters of apology for lying about sexual assault, police say

'Quite what inspired the girls to lie about such a serious and terrible crime, I cannot say'

The girls had been walking along a dirt track between Lilford Park and Green Lane in Leigh (Google Streetview)

Two girls are to write letters to a man apologising for lying over allegations of sexual assault.

One of the girls, aged 13, claimed that a man had attempted to sexually assault her while she was with her 12-year-old friend. The pair had been walking along a dirt track between Lilford Park and Green Lane in Leigh, in Wigan, on Saturday evening.

Following their allegations, officers issued an image of a man on a bike.

But after an interview with the man, who turned up at the police station in an attempt to clear his name, and calls from the public, the two girls said they had lied about the attack.

The girls were “under no illusions as to the severity of what they [had] done,” said Greater Manchester Police’s Detective Constable Brian Johnston, adding that he did not understand what had led the girls to make the false allegations.

The man has been cleared of any wrong-doing.

Police, with agreement from the parents of the girls, have decided they should write apology letters to the man.

“First and foremost I would like to send my sincerest thanks to the members of public who came forward and helped with our investigation,” said Detective Constable Johnston in a statement.

“Quite what inspired the girls to lie about such a serious and terrible crime, I cannot say.”

Detective Constable Johnston added: “But they have [been] spoken to in the strongest terms and are under no illusion as to the severity of what they have done and how damaging false allegations can be.”

“Thankfully, their parents and the man in question were fully supportive of restorative justice and the girls will now have the chance to apologise fully for the terrible accusations they have fabricated against the poor man.”

Police also asked the public to stop sharing images of the man on social media.