A HUSBAND is standing by his wife who falsely accused him of rape.

Newcastle Crown Court was told that Lynne Curry made up the claim because she thought her husband James was spending too much time with his former wife.

Mr Curry was arrested and questioned by detectives investigating the malicious allegation.

But weeks later - while he was on bail and facing at least five years imprisonment - she admitted the rape claim was false.

Curry, of Coatsworth Court, Bensham, Gateshead, made the allegation on June 22 last year, while being treated in hospital for pancreatitis.

She said her husband had raped and sexually assaulted her the night before, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Mr Curry was arrested and said sex had been consensual.

Curry was discharged from hospital to a women's refuge and then disappeared.

The court heard the 42-year-old, who had psychiatric and drink problems, disappeared for a month before police tracked her down on July 16.

During a police interview she admitted she had lied.

Tim Gittens, prosecuting, said: ''She indicated that she made up the allegation because she was jealous because her husband had been spending too much time with his ex-wife and she wanted to get back at him and hurt him.''

Curry was charged with intending to pervert the course of justice, an offence she admitted last month.

Robert Adams, in mitigation, said: ''Clearly, Mr Curry forgives her. The last thing her husband wants is for her to be sent to prison.

''She has wasted police time and for that she is sorry.''

Judge Beatrice Bolton gave her a seven-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

The judge said: "It undermines the position of those victims, men and women, who have genuine complaints to make, but they feel that they will not be believed because of bare-faced liars like you."

As well as the suspended jail sentence, Judge Bolton imposed a suspended sentence supervision order for two years.

Curry and her husband, who both refused to comment, left the court arm-in-arm.