A woman who falsely claimed a man had attacked and threatened to kill her has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Katie Freeman-Smith, 25, called police on February 18 and said that three days earlier the 26-year-old victim, who she claimed was her ex-partner, had called at her home in Elmside, Littleport.

She said he had pushed past her friend who had answered the door and threatened her before grabbing her by the hair and slamming her head against the kitchen wall.

Freeman-Smith then claimed he had threatened to kill her with a six-inch kitchen knife before throwing it at her foot, causing a small gash.

After he left she said she had gone to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge.

The victim was arrested on February 19 at his home outside the county and brought to Parkside Police Station where he spent almost 24 hours in custody.

Freeman-Smith was then able to gain emergency accommodation from other agencies by claiming she was the victim of ongoing domestic abuse

However, initial police investigations revealed Freeman-Smith had not been to Addenbrooke’s and when this was put to her she changed the hospital to Hinchingbrooke, in Huntingdon, and asked to withdraw the complaint.

The victim was interviewed and said he was at home on the day of the alleged offence and denied ever being her boyfriend.

Freeman-Smith pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice in September and last week was given a 16-month sentence suspended for two years at Cambridge Crown Court.

A restraining order was also imposed, forbidding her from contacting the victim or making a false complaint about him to any public authority.

PC Sam McMurrugh said: “We treat all allegations of domestic abuse, including harassment, very seriously. It can happen to anyone and our aim is to protect victims and give them the advice and support they need.

“In this case, Freeman-Smith had harassed the victim over a period of time and then maliciously fabricated the story against him. She then used this false claim to gain advantage for herself.”