A Hong Kong court has sentenced 26-year-old British woman Isabel Rose to six years in prison after convicting her of blackmail and perverting the course of public justice over allegations she made against a British banker.
Rose, from south-east London, travelled to Hong Kong in January 2024 to visit the banker after they met while travelling in Thailand. She later alleged that he r@ped her at his apartment and reported the incident to police.
The banker was initially arrested but was later released after investigations. Authorities subsequently charged Rose with blackmail and perverting the course of public justice.
During the trial, prosecutors said Rose demanded £5,000 following the alleged ass@ult before later increasing the amount to £100,000, allegedly thre@tening to report the banker to police if he refused to pay. Rose denied the accusation, maintaining that the money was compensation the banker had offered for her flights, accommodation and medical expenses.
Although forensic tests were inconclusive, District Judge Adriana Noelle Tse Ching accepted the banker’s account, rejected Rose’s testimony and ruled that the r@pe allegation had been fabricated. The judge also said Rose had shown “not an iota of remorse,” describing her actions as “wicked” and “evil.”
The court also reviewed WhatsApp messages exchanged after the alleged incident. In one message, Rose wrote that she had been violated and did not want s+x, while the banker replied that he was sorry, saying he had been slightly drunk and misread her signals. He told the court he was referring to an emotional violation rather than r@pe. The judge further noted that Rose deleted some messages and used disappearing chats.
Rose has maintained that she was r@ped and remains innocent. Her spokesperson said she and her family are considering their legal options, while the UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular support and remains in contact with her family and Hong Kong authorities.
