A lying law graduate who falsely accused her boyfriend of a series of rapes has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Rhiannon Brooker (30) falsely claimed Paul Fensome (46) forced her to have sex with him on five occasions and faked injuries to suggest he had beaten her.

The Birmingham law graduate alleged Mr Fensome caused her to have a miscarriage by punching her in the stomach.

Bristol Crown Court heard Brooker falsified the "wicked" allegations so she would have an excuse for failing her legal exams at the University of the West of England.

She repeatedly told tutors at the university, in Bristol, that her performance suffered from "extenuating circumstances".

Mr Fensome, a 6ft 8in heavy metal fan, was arrested, charged and held in custody for 36 days before police confirmed he had clear alibis for the dates of the alleged rapes.

Brooker, of School Road, Frampton Cotterell, South Gloucestershire, signed a statement admitting the allegations were false – but had retracted it.

A jury of 10 men and two women convicted Brooker of 12 charges of perverting the course of justice between May 2011 and January 2012 following an eight-week trial. The charges related to five false claims of rape, six of assault and one of false imprisonment.

PA Media