Nine months for false accuser

Barkley was found guilty in June

A woman has been jailed for nine months for falsely accusing her solicitor of raping her on the floor of his office.

Jacqueline Barkley also claimed that a detective sergeant had indecently exposed himself to her at a police station in Edinburgh.

The lawyer for Barkley, 38, of Murrayburn Park, Edinburgh, told the city's sheriff court: "This is a woman in need of help rather than punishment."

But Sheriff Douglas Allan said her conduct had been "cruel and malicious" and pointed out that Barkley had a previous conviction of a similar nature.

It appears nobody is safe when they are dealing with you Sheriff Douglas Allan

Barkley was found guilty by a jury in June of several charges, including breaking bail conditions by sending text messages to the solicitor and his legal partner.

Sentence was deferred for psychiatric reports.

The court heard that Barkley's actions were "a cry for help from a very lonely woman, condemned to spend her life on her own".

She had cared for her mother who died from cancer last October and had looked after her nephew who had been taken into foster care.

Sheriff Allan said there had been a "devastating" effect on the subjects of her allegations, who had been subjected to vigorous investigations.

The victims were people who had been trying to help her.

Jailing Barkley, the sheriff added: "It appears nobody is safe when they are dealing with you."