Prison worker, 27, is jailed for 20 months after inventing claim that she was raped by Asian taxi driver

  • Victoria Hoynes' lies saw two men's reputations and work prospects damaged
  • Hoynes, 27, of Durham, admitted acts intended to pervert the course of justice
  • Judge James Adkin said her 'wicked complaint' was ' a complete fabrication'
A prison worker and aspiring model is now behind bars herself after inventing rape claims against an Asian taxi driver.
Victoria Hoynes' lies resulted in Rajiv Asghar and Abdul Rahim both having their reputations and work prospects damaged as they were grilled by police.
Hoynes, who worked with sex offenders at HMP Frankland, County Durham, was also an aspiring model who entered Durham's Next Top Model in 2013 and the Miss Newcastle beauty pageant the following year.
Durham Crown Court heard her claim not only cast suspicion over two Asian taxi drivers, one being arrested, but also wasted many police man-hours while her allegation was investigated over a busy Bank Holiday weekend.
Victoria Hoynes' (pictured) lies resulted in two drivers having their reputations and work prospects damaged as they were grilled by police
Hoynes, pictured, of Durham Gardens, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, admitted acts intended to pervert the course of justice and was jailed for 20 months
Victoria Hoynes' (pictured left and right) lies resulted in two drivers having their reputations and work prospects damaged as they were grilled by police
It was only when dash-cam footage was reviewed from the cab of one of the drivers, who had driven her that night, that it became clear her story was unfounded and Hoynes was then spoken to, not as a potential victim, but as a suspect.
She told police: 'Why would I risk my job and my lifestyle over this?'
The court heard police received a call at 3.49am, on May 26, last year, from Hoynes' mother, who told them she returned home from a night out in a distressed state, saying she had been raped by an Asian taxi driver outside Lanchester Road Hospital, on the A691, near Durham.
Hoynes said she took a taxi from the Market Place, in Durham, and claimed the driver, who was Asian and in his 40s, stopped near the hospital and carried out the attack on the front passenger seat, before pushing her out, into the grounds of the hospital.
She said she contacted a friend who picked her up, noticing Hoynes had twigs in her hair and scratches on her clothing.
Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said in her initial interview she changed her description of the driver to being in his 20s, with spiked, gelled hair.
Extensive inquiries took place and Mr Asghar, a driver on duty that night, was arrested and denied the offence, stating he had taken a fare to Crook at about that time.
Mr Dodds said that driver was discounted as a suspect, but the focus turned to a second driver, Mr Rahim, who, it emerged, had driven Hoynes, dropping her at the hospital on Lanchester Road.
He said he drove straight home afterwards and footage from his dash-cam, inside the cab, was accessed, which showed Hoynes got out unaided and there was no contact between the pair.
Mr Dodds said it was then Hoynes' investigation status changed and when interviewed maintained her original story, stating she would not risk her job at Frankland Prison, and her 'lifestyle' over this incident.
She claimed she had been raped by an Asian taxi driver outside Lanchester Road Hospital, pictured, on the A691, near Durham
She claimed she had been raped by an Asian taxi driver outside Lanchester Road Hospital, pictured, on the A691, near Durham
Investigating officers believed it was only when the dash-cam footage was shown to her that she changed her account.
Hoynes had been drinking and had taken drugs on the night she claimed to have been raped, the court heard.
After leaving the club where she had lost her friends she got into a taxi in Durham Market Place.
She claimed the taxi stopped outside Lanchester Road Hospital and she was raped by the Asian driver who she described to police as 'scary.'
The court was told that at 7.21pm - six hours before she said the rape occurred - she texted her boyfriend to say 'The taxi guy is being funny.'
It was at 2.32am that she texted him again to claim that she had been raped on the journey back to her home and police were called.
Forensic evidence only found her boyfriend's DNA with no evidence of any sexual contact with another man, but at that stage Hoynes remained the victim of a stranger rape and police leave was cancelled.
Two taxi drivers were questioned and the first of Mr Asghar, 48, was arrested and his mobile phone and car were seized.
Hoynes then changed her description saying the driver had been younger, in his 20s, with spiky gelled hair, leading the a younger driver, Mr Rahim, being grilled by detectives.
Police found dashcam footage from the car taken from Durham by Hoynes, which caught her leaving unmolested - and crucially picked up a reflection of the driver innocently scrolling through his mobile phone.
Prosecutor Shaun Dodds said: 'On the camera she can be seen approaching the taxi and exiting it. A reflection shows the driver looking at his mobile phone and she gets out unaided. There is clearly no contact whatsoever and the rape simply did not take place.
'The status of the enquiry changed from her being a victim to her being a suspect. Had the dash cam footage not been seized she would still have been treated as a victim.'
Adam Birkby, for Hoynes, said: 'She accepted full responsibility for the false allegations and wishes to make it clear through me that the two drivers are totally innocent and apologises to them and their families. She offers a sincere public apology and she is extremely remorseful.'
He said reports into Hoynes by a psychologist found her offending was 'the unconscious management of a depressive illness' which had been caused by a traumatic break-up from her partner in 2018.
Both suspected drivers spoke of the effect it had on their livelihood and family life, while the lead investigator said Hoynes' actions may deter future rape victims from reporting crimes. 
Hoynes, 27, of Durham Gardens, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, admitted acts intended to pervert the course of justice. 
Jailing her for 20 months, Judge James Adkin said: 'This type of offence can affect the prospects at trial of cases where it may be finely balanced as to whether women get the justice they deserve.'
He added: 'I find it difficult to see how distress about a break-up would cause you to make such a wicked complaint against someone totally innocent.'  

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