Lindsay Gorman alleged she had been raped in Botanic Gardens

A 20-year-old woman who falsely claimed she had been raped in a Belfast park has been jailed for nine months.

Lindsay Gorman, originally from Lake Glen Avenue in west Belfast went to police two years ago, after claiming she had been raped in Botanic Gardens.

It caused widespread alarm among female students in the university area.

An 18-year-old man was charged with the rape, but was later freed after Gorman admitted she had concocted the story.

Belfast Crown Court, sitting in Antrim, heard that Gorman had had consensual sex with two different men on the night she claimed she had been raped.

Her lawyer Denis Moloney said that Gorman was deeply ashamed of what she had done and for subjecting "an innocent man" to the full rigours of the law through a totally despicable allegation".

Judge Geoffrey Miller said Gorman had not only wasted police time, but more importantly, could have destroyed the life of a completely innocent man by her bogus claims.

Gorman, who pleaded guilty to perverting public justice, agreed to serve 18 months probation upon her release from prison.