A JUDGE yesterday freed a man who has spent months behind bars because of a series of lies his pregnant girlfriend told police.

Kieran Morby was locked up on remand after Leanne Foster claimed he had held a gun to her head during a drunken argument.

It has since emerged that the allegation was “entirely untrue”, Morby’s barrister, Kate Dodds, told Teesside Crown Court.

Miss Foster also falsely claimed that she was having no contact with her 25-year-old partner while he was in jail facing trial.

Secret filming showed that Miss Foster was making regular prison visits under a variety of false names to trick the authorities.

Morby was first arrested after an incident at the couple’s home in Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough, on July 15 last year.

Miss Foster claimed she had been repeatedly punched, and suffered bruising to her arms, scratches under her chin and a fractured finger.

Morby said his partner was drunk and punched herself because she was angry at being pregnant and being unable to go out to drink.

When Morby was due to go on trial in February for causing actual bodily harm, Miss Foster made a retraction statement.

Morby pleaded guilty to a lesser offence of common assault, and was given bail, with a condition not to approach his girlfriend.

But just 12 days later, after another drinking session, police were again called to deal with a serious allegation against Morby.

Miss Foster claimed she had been badly beaten up and had an air rifle held to her head, but later confessed to making up the story.

In a second retraction statement, she said she was angry and “wanted to get back at him”, the judge, Recorder Simon Hickey, heard.

Morby, of Aberdare Road, Middlesbrough, admitted two charges of common assault – which carry a maximum six-month sentence.

Mr Recorder Hickey heard that he had spent the equivalent of a six-month sentence on remand, so allowed him to walk free.

The judge imposed a community order with supervision for 18 months, and told Morby to go on nine alcohol activity sessions.