A 50-year-old woman who said her ex-husband attacked her was sentenced to 120 hours' community service and accused of playing games with the legal system.

Sheila Page, of Chesterfield Close, Orpington, was charged with attempting to pervert the court of justice after withdrawing the allegations against her ex- husband Noah Smith.

Police were called to her home on July 28, saying she had been kicked and punched by Mr Smith and he was arrested the next day.

He was charged but Page refused to go to court, saying she feared reprisals, despite being offered re-housing and security advice.

Page was arrested after she wrote to police saying she was lying.

She said she slapped him because she wanted revenge because Mr Smith had a child from an affair the previous year.

She pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court on November 28 and was given 120 hours' community punishment.

Judge Cedric Joseph said: "What you were doing was playing games with the criminal justice system.

"Do it again, and you will find yourself in prison.

"Normally, people who commit this sort of offence do go to prison."