A YOUNG mum who falsely implicated an innocent man in the alleged burglary of her flat has been spared jail, but has been ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

Rebecca Williams, 21, lied to police when she got back from a weekend away, claiming a mess in her flat must have been left by a burglar.

In reality Williams had left the mess there herself, Swindon crown court heard.

As a result of her deceit a former partner was arrested and detained by police for more than seven hours.

When DNA tests came back her current beau was also arrested and questioned. He showed police text messages she sent asking him to lie.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said in the past Williams, of Thomas Court, Prospect Place, Trowbridge, had been away for a weekend in October 2013 and when she returned the flat was in a state and she believed it had been burgled.

Mr Meeke said it was not clear how the former boyfriend's name was given to the police but he was arrested and detained for seven-and-a-half hours.

Bedclothes were later sent for DNA analysis and when they came back with a match for another man he too was arrested.

But he was able to show the police messages sent by the defendant asking him to lie on her behalf and proving they were in a relationship before she went away.

Williams pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. She admitted that between October 25 and December 28 last year she 'implicated an innocent person as a suspect in an alleged burglary' and asked a third party to lie.

Alex Daymond, defending, said when she got back to the flat with her family she was embarrassed about the mess so lied.

He said she was a 'vulnerable' single mum who suffers from anxiety and is awaiting help through her GP for her condition.

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Blair QC said: "I think it has finally sunk home to you how serious it is to lie to the police. It has cost them a great deal of money and a huge amount of time."

He imposed a four-month jail term suspended for a year with supervision, 40 hours of unpaid work and an £80 surcharge.