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A 25-year-old woman was celebrating her engagement on holiday in Queenstown when she claimed an Uber driver sexually assaulted her.
After a night of “excessive binge drinking”, Courtney Grace told police she got into an Uber alone to head back to her accommodation.
But the Auckland woman was kicked out of the Uber for vomiting, and it was when she hopped in another to continue the journey, that she said she was sexually assaulted by the driver.
This week Grace was sentenced to 10 months’ supervision in the Manukau District Court for making a false statement to police after the sexual assault was found to have never happened.
Grace was holidaying in Queenstown with her fiancé to celebrate their engagement in October 2025.
Her defence counsel DeAnne Nicoloso said after a night of “excessive binge drinking” Grace ordered an Uber alone to go back to her accommodation.
According to the summary of facts, Grace claimed she vomited in the initial Uber and was kicked out. It was then she ordered a second ride in which she claimed she was sexually assaulted by the driver.
She then called her sister-in-law and told her about the alleged incident. The sister-in-law then called Grace’s fiance.
It was the fiance who called the police.
Grace then gave a verbal and written statement to police and was referred to the Central Lakes Family Health Services and had a sexual health examination at Queenstown Medical Centre.
The summary of facts said CCTV footage and Uber data disproved Grace’s claim after a police investigation.
Judge Sanjay Patel told the court it was then that Grace told police she did not want to proceed with the complaint to “save yourself the stress”.
On returning to South Auckland she was arrested but stuck with her complaint that she had been sexually assaulted.
“We’re looking at a young woman who has gone to Queenstown to celebrate an engagement. There has been excessive binge drinking on her part,” Nicoloso told the court.
“She said she has a serious alcohol problem and is engaged in counselling.”
In her presentence report, her boss told her probation officer that she was a good employee and often went the extra mile to help people.
“She is a good person, she is an employed person, she has some issues. This has been a very significant event in her life,” Nicoloso said.
“She will not have fond memories of her Queenstown getaway and her engagement.”
Judge Patel said Grace “could have stopped the process if she had been upfront” after the initial police complaint.
It was also noted that Grace did not come across remorseful in the presentence report.
“The writer of the report considers factors that contribute to offending are alcohol, entitlement and consequential thinking,” Judge Patel said.
“You still don’t accept the allegation is false and you have no remorse,” he said.
But Judge Patel was willing to overlook this as Nicoloso submitted that the perceived lack of remorse was connected to Grace’s response to the offending.
It was recommended by probation and police that Grace undergo community work and supervision, but Judge Patel said community work would not be beneficial in this case.
Instead, he sentenced her to 10 months’ supervision as well as counselling. She was also ordered to pay $213.87 in reparation to police for the medical examination.
SEXUAL HARM
Where to get help:
If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email support@safetotalk.nz
• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz
Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.