A DOUBLE rape liar who almost cost a man his life when she made her second false claim walked free from court yesterday.

Jemma Potter, 19, told boyfriend Stephen Pitcairn, 24, that she had been attacked by Brian Pallister, 42.

As a result, Pitcairn and friend Peter Joicey, 39, launched a revenge attack that left the 42-year-old clinging to life.

The assault, which started while Mr Pallister was asleep, left him with a fractured jaw and eye socket, a collapsed lung, broken ribs, a blood clot on the brain, wounds to his face and loss of teeth. He underwent lifesaving surgery and spent six weeks in hospital.

Potter, of Hyde Street, Sunderland, who was pregnant with another man's child when the attack happened, admitted inciting the assault.

Pitcairn, of Horatio Street, Sunderland, and Joicey, of Saint Leonard Street, Sunderland, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent on August 31, last year.

Joicey, who has several convictions for violence, was detained indefinitely and told that he can apply for parole after four years. Pitcairn was jailed for six years.

Potter was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, and given a two-year community order.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that in 2005, Potter was given a warning for wasting police time after she made a rape claim which, while initially taken seriously, proved to be false.

Potter admitted inciting an assault on Mr Pallister. The court was told she did not think any serious harm would be caused to him.

Jamie Adams, for Pitcairn, said: "He is normally regarded as very gentle, someone who would rather help than hurt people. He seems to have become involved in this entirely because of the thought his girlfriend had been raped."

Robert Woodcock, for Joicey, said there was no mitigation he could offer the court for his client's actions.