A report from the press and journal ACCUSER IN ISLES ABUSE CASE HAD LEVELLED FALSE ALLEGATIONS IN THE PAST ERLEND

BARCLAY09:00 - 01 November 2004

A Woman whose claims led to a group of Western Isles residents being investigated for child sex abuse had made false allegations to police before, it has emerged. Angela Stretton was a central figure in the case police had built up against eight people they arrested in England and Lewis late last year.Ms Stretton, 37, who lives in the Western Isles, provided evidence that led to the arrest of her 75-year-old mother, Lily Place, and brother, David Disney.Investigations began in January 2003 when a small number of children told social workers they had been sexually abused.Two individuals were identified initially after claims of inappropriate touching.However, it has now emerged that the number of suspects rose to eight when Ms Stretton became involved and the breadth of the allegations also increased.According to media reports, she told police that Satanic rituals involving children had taken place in the islands involving children.There were claims of drinking blood, orgies and the ritual slaughter of animals.The eight appeared in court in October last year accused of rape, lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and spent a week behind bars before being released on bail.However, nine months later the charges were dropped without any explanation.Reports in a national newspaper now claim Ms Stretton made hoax calls in 1987 alleging her landlord in Leicester was abusing his daughter.Police and social services found nothing to back up the claim and Ms Stretton was fined £100 after she admitted in court making the calls to the emergency services.Her mother, Ms Place, also said Ms Stretton had falsely claimed she was raped when she was 11.Police medical staff examined her but found nothing to support the claim, said Ms Place.A spokeswoman for Northern Constabulary said last night that the force was aware of the false allegations Ms Stretton had made but noted she had also made claims that had resulted in people being convicted of criminal offences.