A WOMAN who falsely accused a Tidworth soldier of rape after she was rejected by him has been sent to prison for five years.

Rebecca Palmerwas found guilty yesterday (Thursday) of four offences of perverting the course of public justice at Winchester Crown Court.

Palmer had made the allegation of rape in December 2015 against a 22-year-old soldier serving with the Kings Royal Hussars, in Tidworth.

The court heard that Palmer, of Garraways, Royal Wootton Bassett, had engaged in consensual sexual activity with the soldier but on being rejected by him she embarked on a malicious campaign which led to him being arrested on more than one occasion and held in custody for periods of time.

Joanne Jakymec, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Wessex said: “She repeatedly made false allegations, including that of an allegation of rape, and sent malicious communications to both the victim and members of his family

"She falsely claimed that the victim had taken revenge on her by posting intimate pictures of her on Facebook."

Jurors heard that Palmer had told others, and the police, that she was pregnant but on questioning claimed to have lost the baby during a purported suicide attempt.

The 26-year-old also invented fake friend profiles and produced false correspondence hoping that these would be accepted as supportive evidence in court.

She pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a number of offences of perverting the course of justice and malicious communications but she maintained her innocence to making the false allegation of rape – forcing the victim to give evidence in court.

During the trial, the court heard a personal impact statement from the victim about the devastating affect the false allegations had on his life.

Palmer was eventually found guilty by the jury on Thursday.

“Our thoughts go to the victim in this case and we hope that this verdict will allow him to move on,” Ms Jakymec said.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police added: “Palmer’s behaviour has been completely unacceptable and she has shown no regard for the level of upset she has caused to others.

“Palmer became completely embroiled in her own web of lies and her appalling behaviour could really have a negative impact on other victims of rape or sexual assault who may choose not to report it to police for fear that they will not be believed.

“I would like to reassure victims of sexual assault that we take all reports extremely seriously and would encourage anyone who has been a victim, regardless of how much time has passed since the offence, to come forward and report it to police on 101."