TWO “wicked” women who concocted a pack of lies and made a false sexual assault allegation against a Southampton man have been jailed.

A court heard that Zinzile Ademuni-Odeke curled up in a ball on a couch cuddling a teddy bear and cried while police officers attempted to ask her about the alleged attack by Colin Palin.

Mr Palin was arrested and spent more than five hours in custody on suspicion of sexual assault following the unfounded allegation made by Ademuni-Odeke, and was only told no action would be taken four days later.

Ademuni-Odeke, 29, called police on March 27, 2014 after a party hosted by Emma Riche-Webber, 30, at her home in Linacre Road, Southampton.

Prosecutor Carolyn Branford-Wood told Bournemouth Crown Court that the party – which was being held for Riche-Webber’s 12-year-old daughter – carried on through the day and that she, Mr Palin, who was her partner at the time, and Ademuni-Odeke had been drinking.

Riche-Webber, 30, went upstairs and came down to find Ademuni-Odeke on the phone to police claiming that she had been sexually assaulted by Mr Palin before he ran out.

Judge John Harrow said: “You, Zinzile Ademuni-Odeke, called the police and you acted out a dramatic emotional performance for a police officer. This was a pack of lies. You, Emma Riche-Webber, agreed to support your friends’ account and the fact is that you supported her account on the details.

“Colin Palin said that it was a very distressing experience for him but I am unable to say how much police time was wasted on this.

“You put a man in this position and in fear of being charged with a sexual offence. You wasted police time, and to risk rumours being spread about him is wicked and merits immediate custody.”

Police noticed inconsistencies in the women’s statements given by Riche-Webber and Ademuni-Odeke and checked CCTV pictures in the area, CCTV in the area proved Mr Palin couldn’t have carried out any attack.

John Dyer, representing Ademuni-Odeke, gave no explanation for the fabricated claims but told the court that she had been through a difficult upbringing and highlighted his client’s mental health problems.

He said: “This was an emotional incident as a result of some form of personal reaction between the parties on that evening.”

And Tim Dracass, defending Riche-Webber said shortly after her original statement she voluntarily attended Bitterne Police Station and told officers she had lied.

Ademuni-Odeke, of Terminus Terrace, Southampton, was jailed for 18 months and Riche-Webber was jailed for eight months.