A YOUNG woman invented false allegations of sexual assault in order to blackmail a man, a court heard.

Bethany Coppin, 20, attempted to coerce her victim out of £1,000 by threatening the false claim in July 2019.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard cash was paid out by the victim, but repaid once the blackmail was reported to the police.

Appearing before magistrates last February, Coppin admitted a charge of blackmail.

Appearing for sentence this morning, the court heard the victim had previously lent Coppin £400 in “good faith”.

Recorder William Clegg QC said: “All offences of blackmail are serious and inevitably attract a custodial sentence.

“As part of the blackmail, you invented false allegations of sexual assault by someone who had only sought to be generous and kind to you.

“It’s always serious when somebody makes a false allegation of sexual assault because in other cases where people make genuine complaints they’re sometimes not accepted when one remembers incidents like this.”

Charles Durrant, mitigating, highlighted Coppin’s difficult upbringing and “developmental issues”.

He added: “She does recognise what she did was wholly wrong and that’s why she’s pleaded guilty at an early stage to this offence.

“If she could turn back time she definitely would because this experience that she has caused both [the victim] and herself has been one that has left a deep scar.”

Coppin was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was made the subject of a two year community order, requiring her to complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She must also pay £400 in compensation to the victim.