A zoo worker sent spiteful messages to an ex-friend from a fake Facebook account accusing her of lying about being raped.
Jessica Woodrow, from Chester, set up a fake account in the rape suspect’s name before using it to send her messages in May of this year.
The victim who confided in Woodrow, 29, about her ordeal went to police to file a report and claimed her attacker had been harassing her – only for officers to find out Woodrow was behind the messages.
One message read: ‘Why are you spreading lies about me. Leave us all alone. You need help.’
At Chester Magistrates’ court, Woodrow pleaded guilty to sending a false communication with intent to cause ‘non-trivial psychological harm.’
Woodrow, who works voluntarily at Chester Zoo, was also fined £120 and was banned from contacting the victim for two years under the terms of a restraining order. Police are currently investigating the rape claims.
In a statement, the victim said: ‘When I did not know that it was Jessica who sent the messages I was feeling suicidal, paranoid and scared and they made me feel unsettled in my own home.
‘Now knowing it was Jessica, it feels worse. I thought she was a friend.
‘I am now feeling anxious and my sleeping patterns have been affected. I am struggling to sleep and I have nightmares making it harder to get up in the morning.
Jessica Woodrow (pictured), from Chester, set up a fake account before using it to send notes via Facebook Messenger
Woodrow was also fined £120 and was banned from contacting the victim for two years
‘I am more shut off from others and do not trust others as I used to. I cannot confide in people anymore.
‘I let Jessica get close to me and this is what she has done.’
‘To find out she was the person sending those messages to me made me feel really hurt and betrayed. I cannot understand why she has done this to me.’
Miss Neve Flynn prosecuting said that the victim contacted Cheshire Police to report an incident of rape in December 2023 and told officers she had been receiving messages from the man she had accused of assaulting her.
Enquiries carried out by police found the IP address was registered to the home address of Woodrow.
Miss Flynn added: ‘Miss Woodrow was suspected of being the person behind the account. She was subsequently arrested with regards to sending those messages.
‘She also sent a screenshot from the mental health services website page with the message ‘You need help.’
‘Miss Woodrow was subjected to an interview and she admitted that she was the person who sent the messages and set up the fake account.
The 29-year-old was further ordered to complete a 12-month community order, 20 rehabilitation activity days and pay £199 costs
‘She said she had been in a high state of anxiety and was unwell at the time. Miss Woodrow says she does things that she cannot remember and cannot control her impulses.
‘The victim was vulnerable and had reported to police that she had been raped.’
In mitigation Woodrow’s lawyer Howard Jones said: ‘She is someone who has found it hard over the years to form relationships with individuals and groups of friends.
‘I am not here to criticise the complainant but it is fair to say that in a group of friends different things were said to different people.
‘Miss Woodrow got stuck in the middle as far as this particular allegation that the complainant had made against the male that you have heard about.
‘That resulted in her ultimately sending those messages – the reason being that it was put to her that she was spreading rumours among the group of friends.
‘She had not and felt offended by that and that resulted in those messages.
‘It was very much a spur of the moment. They were not multiple messages – it was done in the heat of the moment.
‘The allegation of rape is not something that has been proved. I do not know if the individual has been charged but Miss Woodrow knows that the allegation has been put to police.
‘She puts forward her deep regret for those messages being sent and has written a letter of apology.’
Woodrow was further ordered to complete a 12-month community order, 20 rehabilitation activity days and pay £199 costs.
JP Robin Bradshaw said: ‘This is a very serious offence which caused significant upset and distress to the victim which is still ongoing.
‘We also believe significant compensation is in order for her.’
