A care worker has been jailed for falsely claiming she was the victim of a knifepoint sex assault.

Nancy Cooper, 26, who works at St Helier's Care Hotel in Clifton Gardens, Folkestone, blamed an ex-boyfriend for the attack.

She told police how the former lover - armed with a knife - made death threats before molesting her.

As a result, innocent Stephen Hawkins was arrested at work, searched and spent five hours in a police cell.

But a court heard how Cooper later telephoned the police to say she had made up the story when drunk to frighten her ex-partner.
Mr Hawkins, also a care worker, had to wait another 11 days before being told he wouldn't face charges.

Cooper, of The Leas, Folkestone, admitted perverting the course of justice and was jailed for 12 months.

Judge Simon James told her: "A false allegation, such as the one you made, can have dreadful consequences for an innocent man.
"This is a serious offence which strikes at the very heart of justice which demands the sort of sentence which will deter others who might contemplate making false allegations."

Alexander Upton, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how in February last year two police officers saw "a distressed female" outside a fast food restaurant in West Terrace, Folkestone "punching a concrete pillar."

Mr Upton added: "She was approached and said that she had been raped but did not want to provide further details."

Later she alleged she had been walking home and had been approached by Mr Hawkins.

She claimed that Mr Hawkins had touched her sexually through her clothing and threatened her with a knife and said words to the effect of: 'If you get with anyone else I'll kill you'.

"She said that she had punched Mr Hawkins in the face to get him off her before running away from him.

However, the court heard it was only after his arrest that Cooper phoned the police to admit she had made up the story.

Cooper was arrested and said she invented the incident as a way of getting back at Mr Hawkins for ending their relationship.
Oliver Kirk, defending, said: "She displayed clear remorse and she wishes to apologise to Mr Hawkins for her behaviour."