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

The allegations were made against a 22-year-old soldier serving with the King’s Royal Hussars after he had ‘rejected her’.

A 26-year-old women has been jailed for five years for falsely claiming that she had been raped by a soldier.

Rebecca pleaded guilty to a further five offences of malicious communications and three offences of perverting the course of public justice.

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.