THREE people who gave false alibis for two of the men who attacked Damien Miller have been sent to prison. Joseph Holland, aged 23, and Abul Bosher Shahjahan, aged 25, said they were with Omar Arbab at the time of the assault, while 23-year-old Melissa Jackson said her husband Nasir Aziz was at home.

Natalie McDonald, aged 18, who gave a statement which backed up Jackson's, avoided prison.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told the four pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Mark Heywood, prosecuting, said: "Miss Jackson and Miss McDonald both said Nasir Aziz had come home at 4.30pm and they had a normal family evening.

"Mr Holland and Mr Shahjahan gave statements to police saying Omar Arbab had been at religious events."

The court heard Holland, of Ladywell Road, Tunstall, lied because he had wanted to gain popularity, while Paul Cliff, representing Shahjahan, of Davison Street, Cobridge, said his client had not believed Arbab would be involved in the attack.

Mr Cliff said McDonald, of Barrett Drive, Cobridge, lied because of misguided loyalty to Jackson.

Nicholas Tatlow, defending Jackson, whose address cannot be revealed, said: "This was committed by a vulnerable young woman."

Judge Robert Trevor Jones sentenced Holland, Shahjahan and Jackson to six months. McDonald was sentenced to three months in a young offenders' institution, suspended for 12 months. She was given 80 hours' unpaid work.