Policemen's careers in ruins after lying about street fracas

Published on Thursday 8 May 2008 00:35

THE careers of two policemen who lied in an attempt to frame a law student were in ruins last night.

Community officers Neil Jones, 35, and Andrew MacRobert, 28, claimed William Reid and his friend were shouting and swearing in the street after a night out, and charged them with breach of the peace.

Mr Reid, 22, was handcuffed and put in the back of a police car after his friend, Callum McCaig, 22, ran off in Bothwell, Lanarkshire.

The two policemen later fabricated evidence which claimed Mr Reid had sworn at them and become aggressive in their patrol car in February 2006 – a claim he denied.

They were both suspended from their posts in Blantyre police station, before they were put on trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

During the trial Jones was criticised over several inaccuracies in the crime report filed after Mr Reid's arrest.

A charge that Jones hit Mr Reid on the face was dropped by the Crown, but they were later found guilty of lying about the arrest of the student.

Yesterday, Sheriff Ray Small fined Jones 2,000 and MacRobert 1,250 as he told the pair they had "tarnished" the reputation of Strathclyde Police.

He said: "This case is all the more disappointing given that you were both promising young police officers.

"Your evidence against Mr Reid was totally fabricated, and I find it particularly concerning the harm this will have caused to Strathclyde Police."

Yesterday, Jones's lawyer, Frances McMenamin, QC, told the court that the conviction would almost certainly mean her client would be kicked off the force.

She said: "Although a first offender, this conviction will have a very serious impact on every aspect of Mr Jones's life.

"As well as ruining his reputation as a promising young officer, it is highly likely he will also lose his job, Ms McMenamin said.

"There has been a great deal of surprise in this conviction; indeed he was highlighted as a role model for young and inexperienced officers in his latest appraisal review.

"Neil Jones was an officer held in such high regard by the public and his colleagues that I can only invite your lordship to deal with this matter leniently."

Iain Duguid, QC, acting for MacRobert, said: "Mr MacRobert continues to deny any involvement in this matter. The situation is not that dissimilar in that he could be about to lose his career.

His honesty and his integrity as a police officer has been lost," said Mr Duguid.

"He has placed his life on hold since the start of proceedings, and this conviction will affect him dearly for a number of years."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said a report on the pair would now be sent to the Deputy Chief Constable, John Malcolm.