A PREGNANT single mother will spend three months in prison after making a false allegation of sexual assault.

Aneliese Buchanan, 22 of Witham Street, Newport, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice at Newport crown court yesterday.

The court heard Buchanan claimed she was attacked in the toilets of the Meze Lounge in Newport by Alberto Mottini, a man who previously tried to chat her up, on September 12 last year.

She came out of the toilets distressed, and told friends she had been attacked, claiming Mr Mottini followed her in, put his hand around her throat and sexually assaulted her.

Recorder Peter Heywood said: "On this evening, contradicting what you initially told the police, you had had a significant quantity of alcohol and taken pills the night before, not knowing what they were or what the effects would be.

"You made an allegation of serious sexual assault, and Mr Mottini spent 14 hours in custody which no doubt caused him distress."

In June this year she admitted lying.

It was not revealed why she made the allegation.

Mr Heywood said Buchanan is a "model mother" with a good work record, and the offence was "very much out of character."

"Perhaps you were effected by the alcohol and the drugs but clearly common sense should have prevailed," he said.

The court heard the defendant's baby is due in April, so Buchanan will be approximately four-and-a-half months pregnant when she leaves prison.

Simon Goodman, mitigating, said: "This is a nasty allegation to make and a difficult one to defend.

"She's frightened rigid about what might happen.

"Otherwise the defendant has shown exemplary behaviour. Goodness knows what was going on in her head.

"She had an inability to come to terms with what she did for some time.

"It is to be profoundly hoped this young lady will never trouble the court again."

The court heard that the defendant's child will go into her mother's care while she serves her sentence.

After the hearing a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said the allegation had been thoroughly investigated but that they decided in February there was insufficient evidence to mount a prosecution.

It is understood Mr Mottini, who is 23, is no longer in the country.