A woman who falsely claimed that her husband had tried to kill her with a Samurai sword has been jailed for four years.

Emily Checksfield claimed that her now ex-partner threatened to kill her with the sword during an argument at a flat they were sharing in Rye in April 2012.

Her partner was arrested and later charged but weeks later he managed to record a conversation with her in which she acknowledged that the allegation was false.

Checksfield then hurriedly contacted police to try to withdraw the allegation but instead was charged with perverting the course of justice.

At Lewes Crown Court on Monday, the 41-year-old now living in Deal in Kent was sentenced to four years in jail.

She was found not guilty of a separate alleged offence of burglary last Friday.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Ling said; "Checksfield had put this man through the ordeal of a convincing allegation, arrest, charge, initial court appearance and, for a while, a remand in custody until he secured bail.

"We will always take all allegations of violent offences very seriously, and this one was thoroughly investigated, but it became clear that Checksfield had made the allegation out of personal spite and that it had no foundation.

"It is equally important that false allegations are considered for prosecution and we worked closely with the CPS to help ensure that she was eventually brought to justice."