‘Lazy’ police officer wins appeal over prison term

A POLICEWOMAN who “could not be bothered” to arrest a suspect won an appeal yesterday and had a 12-month jail sentence replaced by probation and community service.

Constable Michele Selby, 38, confiscated tools from a man who claimed to be fixing the door of a restaurant at 5:30am and allowed him to leave.

Appeal judges said Selby’s behaviour struck at the heart of the standards and principles of the police service, but they believed a prison sentence was excessive.

Selby, who resigned from Strathclyde Police after she had been convicted earlier this year of attempting to defeat the ends of justice, was in tears as she left the Justiciary Appeal Court in Edinburgh.

She declined to comment, but a friend said: “She bitterly regrets her behaviour and wants to get on with her life, and make a contribution to the community.”

Selby and a probationary officer saw a man apparently trying to break into a restaurant in Kirkintilloch. Selby took tools from him and later threw them in a bin at the local police station.

She told a colleague that if she could have been bothered, the man would have gone to jail.

After a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Richard Clark jailed Selby for the maximum 12 months. She served 12 days before being freed on bail to await yesterday’s appeal hearing.

Defence counsel Paul McBride, QC, said Selby had undoubtedly been guilty of a “catastrophic error of judgment” and had to leave the police after more than seven years’ unblemished service. She had lost her pension and could expect difficulties in her future professional life.

“There was no suggestion of any financial motive or any personal favour to the individual. A police officer who either has been lazy or indolent … a punishment has to be imposed, there is no question about that. But it need not be custody, in my submission,” said Mr McBride.