A 23-year-old woman who gave a false alibi to a robber was urged by a judge today: “Don’t be so stupid again.

“Be more careful in your choice of boyfriend.”

Caprice Perry of Prince of Wales Court, Summerhill, Wrexham, was given a five-month suspended sentence at Mold Crown Court.

She must undertake a 10-day rehabilitation course and pay £122 costs after pleading guilty to intending to pervert the course of justice.

Judge David Hale said had she told the story in court an immediate prison sentence would have been likely.

“But in your case you have no previous convictions, you were under pressure and it never came to anything.”

Brian Treadwell, prosecuting, described how Perry had provided a false written statement to police claiming that Dominic Pritchard had been at home when a robbery took place at the Coral bookmaker’s in Wrexham.

Electronic and forensic data had linked Pritchard and another man, who were both jailed for the crime.

Kevin Jones, defending, said when she made the statement in February last year she had just been released from hospital after an operation and was receiving medication.

"There had been pressure from Pritchard in what was a threatening and abusive domestic relationship. Perry was a single mother, hard working with two jobs, and was no longer in the relationship.

“He effectively forced her hand,” maintained Mr Jones.