A VINDICTIVE woman falsely told police a man stole her phone when he did not do as she wanted.

The victim was held in a cell for a few hours until he was able to expose Lorraine Macdonald's web of deceit.

The accused had initially called the cops to her Royston home to claim that the man made off with her mobile.

When picked up by police and eventually interviewed, the man explained that Macdonald, 37, gifted him the telephone. He showed them images and messages sent between the two, confirming that the phone was his.

The police checked CCTV, confirming that the man was nowhere near the scene of the crime at the time of the alleged incident. When they returned to Macdonald for more information, the accused then admitted that her original statement was false.

She explained that she did give him the phone, but because he did not do "what she wished" she went to the police.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Macdonald pleaded guilty to making the false statement – depriving the public of police services and rendering her victim liable to suspicion and accusation of theft – on July 18 last year.

In defence it was claimed that the incident was wrapped up within the space of a day, but the "man was deprived of his liberty for a number of hours".

Sheriff Mary McCrory noted: "The consequences for this person was significant."

Macdonald was said to have had a "traumatic upbringing", which was exacerbated by her alcohol consumption and depression. She is now abstaining from booze and has stayed out of trouble since last year.

Her lawyer added: "She is well aware of the seriousness of this."

Macdonald, of Charles Street, was sentenced to a Restriction of Liberty Order in which she will spend the next six weeks indoors between the hours of 9pm and 9am.

She was also handed a Community Payback Order with 140 hours of unpaid work to be completed within four months.