Israeli footballer, 19, who had fling with Brit teen ‘hopes she’s learned her lesson’ after gang rape claim
AN ISRAELI footballer who was accused of gang rape by a British teenager says he "hopes she's learned her lesson".
The unidentified woman, 19, was spared jail today after a judge found her guilty of making up claims she was raped by 12 men while on holiday in Cyprus.
Shimon Yusufov, 19, has been named as the Israeli man who met the woman in Ayia Napa last July.
Following the sentencing Yusufov's lawyer Nir Yaslovitzh told The Sun: "We respect the decision of the judge and accept the sentence.
"What is important for us is that the judge found her guilty. The important thing is we hope the girl learns her lesson from all this."
Yusufov, a striker for local football team Beit Shemesh, admitted having consensual sex with the student but denied any involvement in the sex attack.
The woman claimed he pinned her down before 11 of his friends burst into the room and raped her.
Cops said she made up the claims after she discovered she had been filmed during the incident and it had been posted online.
She said police made her confess to lying about it.
The young woman, from Derbyshire, could have faced up to a year in prison and a fine of up to £1,500 after being convicted of public mischief.
most read in news
However, judge Michaelis Papathanasiou handed her a four-month suspended jail term today and allowed the teen to fly home.
Mr Papathanasiou, said he was taking into account the woman's age, psychological state, that she had been in Cyprus for six months, and was giving her a "second chance".
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Famagusta District Court to show their support for the woman.
Speaking outside the court, her lawyer, Lewis Power QC, said the sentence imposed would allow her to go home, but that "the fight for her innocence will go on regardless".
The teen's mother also expressed gratitude for an intervention by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
Mr Raab had earlier said he had "very serious concerns" about the woman's treatment in Cyprus and urged authorities there to "do the right thing".
Raab trail concern
By Nick Pisa
FOREIGN Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday hit out at the Brit teen’s “terrible ordeal”.
He said he had spoken to his Cypriot counterparts after the Foreign Office expressed concerns about the trial.
Mr Raab said: “There are clear questions around the due process, the fair trial, safeguards that have applied in this case.”
He added that his concerns “have been squarely and firmly and categorically registered with the Cypriot authorities”.
But he said they had to be careful not to “aggravate” the situation before sentencing.
Last night the girl’s lawyer Michael Polak said she needs to be home with her family. But he said he was concerned she may be jailed because the judge “has been so vindictive”.
Last week Cyprus officials warned Britain to “back off”.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.