A man arrested on false rape charges twice said he was left in ‘disbelief’ when it happened.
Chloe Anderson, 20, from Spennymoor, County Durham, made the first report against the man in March 2023, Durham Crown Court heard.
This led police to arrest him at his home, the court heard.
The second arrest came in May 2023, when Anderson reported the man again who had been on bail since March.
As a result of the two arrests, the man was forced to give intimate swabs and samples and was interrogated by police.
He also told the court that he was left feeling ‘ashamed, embarrassed and unable to carry out every day functions’.
But CCTV evidence showed he was in a different location when the false allegation was made.
Anderson was then arrested and pleaded guilty to two counts of perverting the course of justice.
She also made complaints against other people which resulted in her receiving a caution in May 2023, the court heard.
Jonathan Walker, defending Anderson, said: ‘She wants to convey an apology to the victim. It’s not a self-serving act, but a genuine apology.’
Judge Jo Kidd sentenced her to 27 months in a youth offender’s institute.
The judge said: ‘You were 18 going on 19 at the time of the commission of these mean offences.
‘(The victim) was a thoroughly decent, upstanding and innocent man who kept himself to himself and had meant no ill will to you whatsoever.
‘He was living peacefully at his home. He was working and he was trying his best to lead a law abiding life.
‘He has been left ashamed, embarrassed, unable to carry out normal everyday functions.’
The judge added: ‘It was in my view calculated.
‘You are manipulative and you give no thought to the harm you caused to innocent people.
‘The only person you care about is yourself.
‘You had every opportunity when you were arrested to tell the truth.
‘Instead, up until the 3rd of May, you continued to maintain that (the victim) was a repeat, vicious, violent rapist.’
Anderson has also been made subject to a lifetime restraining order against the victim.
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