Rebecca Palmer, from Swindon, Wiltshire, was found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of four offences of perverting the course of justice

Friends of a 26-year-old woman jailed for five years for falsely claiming she had been raped by a soldier has been described as a 'vile liar' and a 'bully'.

Rebecca Palmer, from Swindon, Wiltshire, was found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of four offences of perverting the course of justice.

She also pleaded guilty to five offences of malicious communications and three offences of perverting the course of public justice.

A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokeswoman said she made the fake allegations against a 22-year-old soldier serving with the King's Royal Hussars, based in Tidworth.

Joanne Jakymec, chief crown prosecutor, said: 'Rebecca Palmer indulged in consensual sexual activity with the victim, but on being rejected by him embarked on a malicious campaign which led to him being arrested on more than one occasion and held in custody for periods of time.

'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.

'The jury at Winchester Crown Court heard how the defendant became so embroiled in her own lies that she told others, and the police, that she was pregnant but on questioning claimed to have lost the baby during a purported suicide attempt.

'She invented fake friend profiles and produced false correspondence hoping that these would be accepted as supportive evidence of her false claims.

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

Ms Jakymec added: 'Rape is a very serious offence and this case should not detract genuine victims of this crime from coming forward and reporting.

Palmer also pleaded guilty to five offences of malicious communications and three offences of perverting the course of public justice

'Our thoughts go to the victim in this case and we hope that this verdict will allow him to move on.'

People who knew Palmer today described her as a 'vile, lying bully'.

One said: 'She used to go to the same riding stables when I was a kid. Horrible girl. A real bully.

'I believe she was in office work. Always lied about everything. Horrid things. It's about time it caught up with her.'

Another added: 'She was a bully until she picked the wrong person to mess with. She wasn't very liked at school and only had about four friends.

'She was a vile lying bully. Only words I can describe her with.'