A woman who wasted more than 250 hours of police time when she falsely claimed she had been raped has been ordered to pay Kent Police £500 compensation.

Stacey Wallace, of Humber Crescent, Strood, appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court today for sentencing after she admitted wasting police time at a previous hearing.

The 26-year-old was also given a four-month prison sentence - suspended for two-years - a nine-month supervision requirement and a drug rehabilitation order for six-months. She was also ordered to pay costs of £80.

Wallace had claimed she was raped by a man as she walked home from a Chatham nightclub in the early hours of Saturday, October 20, last year.

She told police four men had followed her over Rochester Bridge and that one of the men had raped her by the bridge.

An investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate led to the arrest of a man. Wallace was kept updated on the arrest, but at no time made further comment.

During his police interview, the man said the sex was consensual and that he even gave Wallace his business card. The card was later found in Wallace's pocket.

Officers seized CCTV showing Wallace and the man walking with their arms around each other. Further enquiries examined mobile phone communication and evidence uncovered led officers to put it to Wallace that her allegation was false.

She was charged with wasting police time on November 1 last year.

DC Catherine Holmes, who led the investigation, said: "Rape is an incredibly serious offence and police will always investigate reports thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned in the process to bring justice to the victims of this appalling crime.

"When someone falsely claims to have been raped it not only wastes a huge amount of police time but also ruin people's lives.

"Wallace's lies have led to the arrest of an innocent man who had to undergo extensive questioning and after which intimate forensic samples were taken from him.

"Her claims resulted in over 250 hours of police time being wasted, resources which could have been used helping victims of crime."