A woman who made false rape allegations against her former partner has been jailed.

A judge told Julie Watts: "This can only be seen as a perverted act of revenge."

And he pointed out that such false allegations lead to jurors becoming "sceptical and disbelieving" when they try allegations of rape.

"Because, when they hear of people like you who make up these allegations on a whim, so genuine complainants will leave court disappointed because their assailant has been acquitted by sceptical jurors," said Judge Brian Lewis.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today that John McGuire was detained by police for a total of more than three hours after her lies.

"And for two months he was on tenterhooks worrying about the prospect of being wrongly convicted of these very grave offences and the possible consequences," said Judge Lewis.

He said he accepted that there had been some violence and intimidation in the couple's relationship.

"But that does not begin to justify any of this, particularly as by then your relationship was over."

Watts, 44, of Douglas Street, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice and was jailed for eight months.

Damian Webb, prosecuting, said that on March 16 last year Watts went to the police and made the false allegations which she claimed spanned six years.

She falsely alleged that he had violently raped her, on occasions while armed with a knife.

A month later she made a retraction statement but it was not until May 23 that Mr McGuire was told that the CPS had decided not to proceed with the case.

Adrian Evans, defending, said that she had made her "foolhardy" decision to make the allegations because of poor thinking skills.

"She is deeply ashamed and embarrassed," he said.