A YOUNG woman has been found guilty of lying about being raped.

Sarah-Jane Hilliard, 20, claimed she was attacked by Grant Bowers, in the toilets at Basildon railway station.

A week later, Hilliard even applied to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, and could have netted at least £7,500.

Yesterday, at Basildon Crown Court, Hilliard was convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Judge Christopher Mitchell has adjourned the case for probation and psychiatric reports, but warned her she faced jail.

Hilliard maintained she was a victim of a sex attack, and initially told police she met Mr Bowers in Liquid nightclub, at the Festival Leisure Park, Basildon.

She claimed he later shared a taxi with her and a friend, before stopping at Basildon railway station so she could use the loo.

Once inside the ladies’ toilets, she said she locked the door, and her next memory was waking up with her underwear and trousers around her ankles.

Hilliard, of Luncies Road, Basildon, also told police Mr Bowers had sent her a text saying they had “gone all the way”, and it was then she realised she had been raped.

Officers could not find CCTV footage of Hilliard and Mr Bowers at Liquid, on July 26 last year. Her friend later admitted lying and said they had been in the nearby Colors nightclub.

CCTV from Colors captured Hilliard kissing and holding hands with Mr Bowers. Officers also discovered Hilliard, who was 19 at the time, had walked to the station with Mr Bowers.

He told the jury how, once in the toilets, she dragged him into a cubicle and had sex with him on a toilet seat.

Afterwards, she told him he had “better be there for the baby” if she was pregnant.

Hilliard was released on unconditional bail.

She will be sentenced on August 13.