Lincs: A woman has been jailed after false mugging

Jodie Baines claimed she had been mugged while on a night out in Lincoln city centre with the robber stealing her cash and engagement ring.

She went on to falsely accuse a 16 year old boy of carrying out the attack and he was held in police custody for over 12 hours after being arrested for robbery.

But police found CCTV evidence which showed that there was no robbery and Baines had simply shared her money with her boyfriend.

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, said: “She said the attack took place in an alleyway near to Jailhouse Rock.”

“She wanted the police to be called. Officers attended and they did a drive around the area with her. She identified the young man.”

“She said she wanted him to be brought in and searched. He was arrested and held in police custody.”

“The defendant then gave two statements to the police.”

Miss Leonard said that as part of their investigations police traced CCTV footage which revealed the true situation.

“It showed the defendant and her partner obviously arguing. He pulled her handbag and removed her wallet. They shared the money. There was no theft and there was no robbery.”

The innocent boy was detained in police custody for 12 and a half hours and was interviewed as a robbery suspect in the presence of his father.

It was only after he was bailed that police officers traced the CCTV film and when confronted with the footage she confessed.

Miss Leonard said the boy had been badly affected by the incident with even members of his own family doubting his innocence.

She said: “He says no-one trusted him.”

Miss Leonard said the boy also faced taunts from his friends who called him “ASBO boy” and “bag thief”.

Baines, 21, of Upper Long Leys Road, Lincoln, admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice on 13th April.

David Eager, defending, said Baines had drunk 15 pints on the night of the incident.

He said: “She really had no appreciation at all of what she had done and the effect it had.”

“Her family are devastated.”