A mother-of-five who falsely accused a Good Samaritan of rape after he gave her a lift home when he found her drunk, crying and barefoot in the street has been jailed for two years.
As Rachael Jones, 38, was led away to the cells, a judge warned that her actions could prompt men to think: 'No way am I stopping for a lone female, however distressed she looks.'
She had been returning home from a drunken night out with friends at midnight when she was ordered out of a taxi for arguing with the driver.
Innocent father-to-be Salim Ullah, who was driving past, was so concerned about her distressed demeanour that he stopped and offered her a ride home.
But after he dropped Jones off and rebuffed her pleas to give him a hug, she falsely alleged she had been lured into a car and gang-raped by Mr Ullah and two Pakistani men in a lay-by.
The 33-year-old was subsequently traced through his number plate and arrested at his Stoke-on-Trent home.
He was held in a police cell for 30 hours during which he had to submit to intrusive examinations and was the subject of malicious gossip in his neighbourhood before detectives concluded no rape had taken place.
Inquiries revealed Mr Ullah had the 'foresight' to record his encounter on his mobile phone and provided the footage to police to help exonerate him, a court heard.
In a statement he said: 'My wife was six months pregnant at the time and this allegation brought a lot of stress to us.
'I should have been fully there for my wife - however, we were worried about what would happen at the end of the case.
'I was worried that might not be there for the birth of the baby and I just feel lucky I recorded the incident.'
Saying his ordeal had left him feeling 'violated', Mr Ullah added: 'I believe I was targeted due to my ethnicity.'
At Chester Crown Court, Jones, of Hassall Green, Cheshire, admitted perverting the course of justice.
Judge Steven Everett told her: 'Mr Ullah behaved in an exemplary fashion and did what many people would not have done and went to your aid.
'Sadly the reason why many other people would not have gone to the aid of a lone woman distressed in the middle of the road without shoes, is due to what happened to him as a result of his act of charity.
'There will be many people who will say: "I am not doing that just in case a serious allegation is made."
'Your behaviour has consequences for people genuinely in need, and you were doing a disservice to those victims who have been genuinely attacked, assaulted and sexually assaulted and are left on the side of the road and are maybe left there because people who drive by say "I am not taking the risk".'
Saying it was 'fortunate' that Mr Ullah had the 'foresight to record the conversation in the car', the judge said it 'does not bear thinking about' the consequences had he not done so.
'I have no doubt he would have been prosecuted for rape and you would have carried on your merry way,' he added.
The incident occurred on April 18, 2022 after Jones got drunk during a night out with friends following an argument with her partner.
Thomas McLoughlin, prosecuting, said she became 'argumentative' during the taxi ride home and was dropped off at the roadside.
But after being brought home, Jones told police she had been 'raped by three Pakistani men' who 'threatened to kill her if she did not do what she was told'.
'She gave descriptions and said the incident lasted for 45 minutes,' he said.
'But the account given by the defendant was completely false.
'What really happened was Mr Ullah had happened to be driving by and noticed a lone female at the side of the road.
'He wanted to help her.
'Concerned for her well-being he offered her a lift home to make sure that she was safe.
'It's the sort of thing he would wish any other person would do for his sisters and loved ones.
'He described he journey passed with no incident, and while still intoxicated she tried to hug him and he offered her a high five.
'Fortunately for Mr Ullah he recorded the whole incident and officers told him after 30 hours he could be released.'
Jones was later interviewed about her account and admitted making it up - blaming her lies on being drunk.
She told officers: 'I got myself in such a stupid state.
'I said things I should never have said. I am a silly woman.
'I am disgusting. I am sorry. I am so sorry.'
In mitigation her counsel, Patrick Williamson, said she had been 'in a difficult place'.
Cheshire Police have not issued any message of regret over Mr Ullah's arrest.
But Chief Inspector Claire Jesson said: 'I do not want this to deter people from reporting such crimes to us for fear that they will not be believed - nothing could be further from the truth.
'We work really hard to encourage people who have been a victim of sexual abuse - no matter how long ago - to report it.'