A young Bedford woman is facing an almost certain jail sentence after admitting making a false allegation of rape.

Zoe Davydaitus, 24, claimed she had been raped by a man on wasteground near the Britannia Wharf development in Kempston Road in July 2004.

She was later charged with perverting the course of justice and maintained her denials until Monday, when she was due to stand trial.

But she pleaded guilty during an appearance at Luton Crown Court.

The charge says she perverted the course of justice between July 16, 2004 and March 23, 2005 by falsely alleging to police that she had been raped.

Her story that she was attacked while walking her dog sparked a police investigation and an appeal through the media for information.

Six months later a 46-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody.

Davydaitus, of Fenlake Road, was granted bail while psychiatric and pre-sentence reports are prepared. She will be sentenced next month.

Judge Jeffrey Burke QC told her: "You must realise that it is overwhelmingly likely that you will receive a custodial sentence for what is rightly regarded as a serious criminal offence. But first we have to see what the reports say about you."

Matthew Kirk, defending, said Davydaitus had handed her lawyers a letter of apology to the man who was arrested.