AN Alloa man who falsely accused his ex-boss of assaulting his girlfriend did it in an act of revenge, Alloa Sheriff Court heard.

Kevin Harrison alleged to police that he had been verbally abused and that his then girlfriend, Sarah Nairn, had been attacked by David Sweeney.

However, the tale unravelled when Harrison tried to take property he claimed belonged to him from his ex-work’s construction yard.

The police were called and when officers and Mr Sweeney confronted Harrison about his actions he blurted out that the alleged assault was all a lie.

He later confessed to the charade in a letter addressed to his ex-boss.

Harrison told police it was Nairn’s idea to make up the assault.

Explaining why he confessed to Mr Sweeney at the yard, he said, “He asked about the assault and I told them I made it up as I was fed up with the hassle I had been getting.” Harrison (29), of Smithfield Meadows, was placed on a Community Payback Order for nine months with the addition of 140 hours of unpaid work.

He and Nairn (17), of Lambert Terrace, Alloa, appeared at court on Thursday for sentence after they admitted wasting police time on 29 January.

Fiscal depute Susannah Hutchison told the court that at around 4.15pm on 29 January at Woodburn Drive, Alloa, the police were called by the couple.

She said, “The officers took statements. Both accused identified the individual had been responsible for the assault. The individual was traced to his home address and arrested for this offence. He was charged and released from custody to appear at a later date.” On 1 February officers were called out to a construction yard in Tillicoultry by Mr Sweeney for an alleged theft taking place by Harrison.

Officers arrived and found Harrison and his ex-boss having a dispute over property. It was during this confrontation that Harrison admitted that he made up the assault allegation.

George Higgins, defending Harrison, said his client showed remorse and tried to make up for his actions.

He said, “There is a background history of difficulties between the parties and foolishly [Harrison] went along with the idea of alleging this assault.” Brian Black, defending Nairn, said his client had learning difficulties and had been recently referred for a medical assessment. He said, “She understands what she did was wrong. Clearly she is a lady who is very young and very vulnerable.” Sentencing the couple, Sheriff William Wood said, “This was stupid and foolhardy and it seems to have been borne out of some sort of malice.” He placed Harrison on a community payback order as a direct alternative to custody and deferred sentence on Nairn for two months to be of good behaviour and called for reports.