A TAXI driver was locked up for almost a day and had his licence suspended for several weeks after an alcoholic drug abuser claimed he had raped her.

Donna Robinson launched a major police investigation after saying she had been attacked outside a Southampton bar. In reality, she had consensual sex with the cabbie.

The 27-year-old had rowed with her boyfriend and stormed off from a party after having taken a cocktail of alcohol, cocaine, cannabis and heroin.

Hours later, she gave police what prosecutor David Jenkins described as “a compelling account” of how she had been sitting outside The Edge nightclub when she was approached by two men, one of whom tried to kiss her. Despite putting up a struggle, she was dragged away, her jeans and underwear were removed and she was raped.

Robinson took police to the scene and described her ordeal.

Daily Echo: For a video of the top stories in today's Daily Echo, click the front page.

A fortnight later, detectives arrested a local taxi driver who was held in custody for 21 hours before being released. His licence was also suspended.

The driver denied the allegation, describing how he had seen her sitting on the pavement and she had willingly gone back to his flat, but they did not have full sex because she “smelt”.

Mr Jenkins said police then had to balance the information from the alleged victim and the cabbie, and viewing CCTV in the area of the supposed attack, they could not find anything to support her evidence.

When a police officer arrested Robinson, she snapped: “No wonder women don’t report it.”

Robinson initially pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice but, shortly before a jury was to be sworn in at the city crown court, she admitted she had made up the story.

Robinson, who formerly lived in the St Mary’s area of Southampton but now has a home in Draycott, Derbyshire, was jailed for 18 months.

Recorder Jonathan Fuller QC told Robinson, who had 25 previous convictions: “This offence strikes at the heart of the criminal justice system and false allegations of rape are wicked.”

In mitigation, Mark Trafford said tackling her drinking and drug abuse had made her less of a threat to society and less likely to reoffend.

After the case DC Rory Kemper said: “This sort of behaviour is not acceptable and we will deal with such incidents robustly.”