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Mother of woman accused of Ayia Napa false rape claim says she has been 'left unsupported' by British embassy

A British teenager who accused seven Israelis of gang rape covers her face as she comes in the Larnaca District Court on November 01, 2019. - Initially, the Briton had alleged 12 Israelis raped her on July 17 at a hotel in the resort of Ayia Napa, a magnet for younger tourists attracted by its beaches and nightlife. The Israelis aged 15 to 18, several of whom had been detained, were released without charge after she was arrested on suspicion of "making a false statement about an imaginary crime", according to police. (Photo by Iakovos Hatzistavrou / AFP) (Photo by IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP via Getty Images)
The British teenager who accused seven Israelis of gang rape covers her face as she as she arrives Larnaca District Court (Getty Images)

The mother of a British teenager on trial in Cyprus after being accused of lying about being gang raped says she has been left “unsupported” by the British embassy.

The woman, 19, is charged with public mischief for allegedly falsely claiming she was attacked by up to 12 Israeli tourists in an Ayia Napa hotel on July 17.

They were arrested and released without charge, with prosecutors saying she willingly wrote and signed a statement retracting her initial claims - something she says she was forced to do under “duress”.

But the woman’s mother claims her daughter has suffered from post-traumatic disorder and her symptoms had become "much, much worse" since the alleged rape.

A British teenager who accused seven Israelis of gang rape covers her face as she comes in the Larnaca District Court on November 01, 2019. - Initially, the Briton had alleged 12 Israelis raped her on July 17 at a hotel in the resort of Ayia Napa, a magnet for younger tourists attracted by its beaches and nightlife. The Israelis aged 15 to 18, several of whom had been detained, were released without charge after she was arrested on suspicion of "making a false statement about an imaginary crime", according to police. (Photo by Iakovos Hatzistavrou / AFP) (Photo by IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP via Getty Images)
The Israelis aged 15 to 18, released without charge after she was arrested on suspicion of "making a false statement about an imaginary crime", according to police (Getty Images)

Her mother, referred to as “Jenny”, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme the case had been a "living nightmare".

"The hardest part of it is being absolutely sure your daughter is telling the truth and then to see a group of men in court say that she's lying.

"[Initially] being in prison and the ongoing uncertainty means she had not been able to get appropriate medical attention or treatment.

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"She sees things, she hears things and is jumpy and uncertain about whether things are there or not."

A statement from the Foreign Office said: "Our staff continue to support a British woman and her family following her arrest in Cyprus.

"We have made a number of visits to her in detention, attended court hearings, and are in contact with her legal representatives and the local authorities about her case."

Police officers surround a British teenager accused of fasely claiming she was gang raped by Israeli tourists, as she leaves the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni in eastern Cyprus,on August 19, 2019 after her trial was postponed because of her request to be represented by a UK lawyer. - Initially, the 19-year-old woman had alleged that 12 Israelis gang raped her at the hotel where she was staying in the popular Ayia Napa resort on July 17. The young Israeli tourists were remanded in custody the next day. But hours before their second appearance in court five of them were released and sent home late the next day. (Photo by Iakovos Hatzistavrou / AFP)        (Photo credit should read IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP via Getty Images)
Initially, the 19-year-old woman had alleged that 12 Israelis gang raped her at the hotel where she was staying in the popular Ayia Napa resort on July 17 (GETTY)

The teenager was a week into a working holiday before she was due to start university when she alleged she was raped by the group of young Israeli men.

She spent more than a month in prison before she was granted bail at the end of August, but cannot leave the island, having surrendered her passport.

The ongoing trial started on October 2 at Famagusta District Court in Paralimni.

She could face up to a year in jail and a 1,700 euro (£1,500) fine if she is found guilty.

The woman has also been ordered to remain in Cyprus over Christmas after a judge postponed the verdict.