A YOUNG British woman convicted by a Cyprus court of lying about being gang-raped will return home after a judge handed her a suspended sentence today.

The 19-year-old from Derbyshire said she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in an Ayia Napa hotel room on July 17 2019 but later retracted her statement to police following hours of questioning without her lawyers present.

Those arrested over the incident, aged between 15 and 20, were immediately freed and returned home, while she was held on a charge of causing “public mischief” and spent about a month in prison before being granted bail.

The teenager left the Famagusta District Court weeping after a judge claimed he was giving her a “second chance” by giving her a four-month sentence, suspended for three years.

British, Cypriot and Israeli supporters gathered outside chanting “Cyprus justice, shame on you” and “Stop blaming the victim.” Placards read: “We believe you” and “Don’t be afraid.”

Her lawyer Lewis Power QC said that her legal team would be challenging the conviction and is prepared to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The teenager’s mother said: “On behalf of the family, I would like to say we are very relieved at the sentence that has been passed down today.

“I would also like to say thank you for all the support we have received throughout the globe.”

Addressing applauding protesters, she said: “I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice.”

The Women’s Equality Party tweeted: “A suspended sentence or a pardon is not true justice for a woman who should never have been on trial in the first place.”

And Green Party peer Natalie Bennett wrote: “A travesty that this case was brought. You have to ask if it is safe for any woman to visit Cyprus.”

Labour leadership hopeful Rebecca Long Bailey hit out at Prime Minister Boris Johnson for turning a blind eye to the young woman’s plea for help.

She said: “This is a deeply disturbing case and the government should be doing everything in its power to bring this young woman home safely.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he would be following up issues raised by the case with the Cypriot authorities.