A woman who assumed the identity of a friend to avoid punishment for an assault has been spared jail.

Mauleza Mocopoto, 32, of Sherwood Place, Barton, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after earlier admitting perverting the course of justice.

Brian Payne, prosecuting, said that on June 7 last year, the Debenhams worker was arrested over an assault but gave the name, address and date of birth of a woman she had known for more than 10 years.

Police released her with a caution, but her deception was uncovered when her friend received a letter about the offence and her husband went to the police station to find out what was going on.

Stephen Parker, defending, said Mocopoto came to Britain from Mozambique in 1998 and had overstayed her student visa but had a National Insurance number and worked hard in two jobs to support her three-year-old daughter.

He said she suffered depression linked to the court case, had a miscarriage in June and was HIV positive.

Judge Patrick Eccles said such cases normally resulted in immediate custody, but he gave Mocopoto a four-month sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered her to do 200 hours’ unpaid work. She was also told to pay £450 costs.

He said: “It’s only because of your physical and mental position the court feels able to take mercy on you.”