A MUM-OF-THREE made up claims about her ex spouting abuse down the phone at her, a Swindon court heard.

Tanya Iles, 34, went to the police after receiving a call from her ex-partner – in breach of a court non-molestation order – checking childcare arrangements and informing her he had lost his phone.

But she claimed he had threatened her on the call, telling the police as much in a 90-minute interview. Her ex was arrested but, having videoed himself making the call, was able to unmask the lie.

Sparing Iles an immediate prison sentence for perverting the course of justice, Judge Jason Taylor QC said: “You need to understand this and you need to understand this very clearly that false allegations are easily made and difficult to refute – and that is why this is so serious.”

Swindon Crown Court heard Iles and her ex-partner had two children together. Their relationship had broken down and, in May last year, a court order was signed setting out childcare arrangements between the former couple. That order, which was followed up two months later with a non-molestation order, restricted contact between the pair to an email account – with telephone or text contact reserved for emergencies.

Prosecutor George Threlfall said Iles’ ex went to Cornwall in mid-July, just days after the non-molestation order was made. It was there he lost his phone, through which he emailed his ex to arrange childcare.

He returned a couple of days later and, because he was due to care for the children the next day, called the woman to check on the arrangements. He took the precaution of videoing the conversation using a friend’s phone.

Iles called the police, telling them he had been abusive and threatening. She later went to the police station, continued the lie through an hour-and-a-half police interview and signed a statement.

Her former partner was arrested but was able to show officers the video of the calls. Iles was re-interviewed and admitted she had made the allegations up.

Mr Threlfall said: “The gravamen of an offence such as this is false allegations are easily made and difficult to refute and in this case Miss Iles was almost certain to be believed and indeed was believed until the police viewed the video of the telephone call which her former partner had taken the precaution of making.”

Nicholas Clough, defending, said his client had made the original call to police on the spur of the moment. “She bitterly regrets her actions.”

She was genuinely remorseful and had three young children who would all suffer if she was jailed.

Mr Clough added: “This is probably her one and only brush with the criminal justice system. She may well be a woman who needs help and guidance rather than simply punishment.”

Iles, of Affleck Close, Toothill, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Judge Taylor sent her to the court cells for a couple of hours before pronouncing sentence. He told her those convicted of perverting the course of justice almost inevitably go to prison because their crimes “strike at the very heart of the administration of justice”.

Describing her false report as a calculated act, Judge Taylor said: “You had lied about this offence. This went far beyond exaggeration. You deliberately attended the police station to make a false report and invented allegations over a 90-minute period before signing to say what you had said was the truth.”

Recognising her remorse and responsibilities to her children he suspended a 20-week prison sentence for two years, ordering she do 250 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days.

He said: “If you commit any further offences let alone one as nasty as this you will going straight to custody.”