Tourist who cried tuk-tuk rape lie is Tunks' girl
- Zoe Nauman and Phil Rothfield
Peter Tunks with his daughter Stevie in 2006
Source: The Sunday Telegraph
THE Sydney woman sentenced to 15 days in a Thai prison for lying about being raped is the daughter of Australian rugby league great, Peter Tunks.
Stevie Rochelle Bamford, 20, was found guilty of making false rape claims against a local taxi driver at Phuket Provincial Court earlier this month. She is due to be admitted to Bang Jo detention centre.
Speaking for the first time about the ordeal, Tunks, who played for the Rabbitohs, Bulldogs and Panthers, said the entire family was extremely concerned about his daughter's welfare and wanted her back on Australian soil.
"It's obviously been a worrying time but we're hopeful to have her back home safely as soon as possible," the former Kangaroo prop told The Sunday Telegraph.
Tunks, 53, who hosts 2SM's drivetime show Talkin' Sports, said he had been in daily contact with his daughter's lawyer as well as the Australian consulate.
"The staff at the consulate have been very good in helping her. I can't say too much more because she is due back in court soon," he said.
Bamford, from
Maroubra, told Thai police on June 10 she had been raped by a tuk-tuk driver while coming home after being separated from her boyfriend after a night out while holidaying in Phuket.
Phuket Provincial Court heard Bamford kept up the charade to Thai police for two days, telling them she said she was taking a taxi back to her resort when the taxi driver picked up two other men.
She alleged he then drove to a secluded area and assaulted her while two other men held her down before stealing her passport and cash.
She finally confessed she had lied because she didn't want her boyfriend to be mad at her for getting home late.
Taking into account Bamford's age and the good relations between Thailand and Australia, the usual sentence of lying to police for one month was cut to 15 days.
She has been granted bail of 50,000 baht ($1560.50) and sources say she has been allowed to holiday on Krabi before she starts her sentence.
The court document stated: "Such a lie could have had a serious effect on Phuket's tourism industry. The sentence was to set an example."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...ie-is-tunks-girl/story-e6freuy9-1226406343177