A WOMAN has been charged with falsely accusing someone of rape.

Sophie Leanne James allegedly made a false allegation of rape in Swindon on August 5, 2019.

She is said to have “named an innocent perpetrator”.

Appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (July 13), the 25-year-old was not required to enter a formal plea to one count of committing an act or series of acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert told the court that the charge was indictable-only, meaning that it can only be dealt with in the Crown Court.

She did not go into the facts of the case and said that the defendant appeared on a postal requisition, so should be released on unconditional bail.

Defending James in the short hearing, Terry McCarthy said: “It’s appropriate that it should be sent to the Crown Court.”

James, of Frobisher Drive in Walcot, will now appear before Swindon Crown Court on August 12, where she is expected to formally enter her pleas.

Magistrates said the alleged offences are “too serious for us to deal with in this court”. She was released on unconditional bail.