A father of two whose life was wrecked when a teenage girl falsely accused him of rape is "shattered" that she will serve only two months in custody for her lies.

The Shipley teenager was led weeping from the dock in handcuffs at Bradford Youth Court today when she was sentenced to a four-month detention and training order after she admitted perverting the course of justice.

It means she will spend only two months in custody.

After the hearing, taxi driver Aftab Ahmed said: "Someone destroyed my life and that of my family's and will only serve two months. I feel totally let down by the system."

The girl's identity is protected by law because of her age and so she cannot be named except on the order of a court. District Judge David Thomas refused an application by the Telegraph & Argus to be allowed to name her.

The 17-year-old was 16 when she accused Mr Ahmed of raping her as he drove her back from a night out in the city centre where she had been drinking heavily.

She admitted the accusation was false at the 11th hour, ahead of a trial which was due to be held at Bingley Magistrates' Court last month.

Bradford Youth Court was told today that the girl, who had been drinking, had been placed in Mr Ahmed's taxi by friends and her sister on January 28 last year.

Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock said: "She was in some state, I think it's fair to say.

"She was sick on the way home and into the house on at least six separate occasions. When she returned home she made the allegation she had been raped by Mr Ahmed.

"As a result of that complaint, police were contacted straight away. She went with officers to a location on Baildon Moor where she said the allegation had taken place."

Mr Ahmed was arrested, questioned and subjected to a medical examination which was eventually found to prove his innocence and six weeks later he was told no action was to be taken against him.

Mr Wilcock said the girl had cost the police more than £5,000. Court costs amounted to about £1,000, he said.

In a statement of mitigation read by solicitor Edward Renvoize, the girl said: "I realise now I made a terrible mistake and my judgement was impaired when I made the complaint."

District Judge Thomas told her: "What you did had disastrous consequences as far as Mr Ahmed was concerned. He was a taxi driver who had taken you home that night because you were completely incapable of looking after yourself.

"He could not find your home. You were not in a position to take him to it because of your condition. He took the trouble to ask at several places.

"You repaid that kindness by alleging he had raped you."

After the hearing Mr Ahmed, of Wimborne Drive, Allerton, said he was "shattered" by the sentence given to his accuser.

The 44-year-old, who was a police inspector in Kashmir, has had to sell his home because he was initially unable to work after the allegation was made against him.

His ordeal has also affected his relationship with his 11-year-old twin daughters.

"I feel worse now than when I was arrested," he said.

"That girl cost me so much. I am having to leave my good neighbourhood; I have lost my family life, social life and it has affected my work.

"If someone is accused of rape they are named - why should she be protected by the law?"

Mr Ahmed's wife, Amber, said she never doubted her husband of 13 years and was "cut up" by the sentence. "I knew my husband could never do anything like that. He has been through so much," said Mrs Ahmed, 32.

"Why did she get off so lightly? She should not have been so drunk - she should not have been drinking. The last year has been hell for us.

"The children don't want to move. Telling them what had happened was heart-breaking. I explained the allegation was nothing but a lie.

"Aftab is really depressed. Every single day we talk about it. It has been a really bad strain on our relationship.

"We used to go out together but now he hardly goes out to family events and he wants to be on his own. He is normally a very lively person and seeing him like that has been a shock to everyone."