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30/07/2012
Policewoman Jailed After Cancer Lies
A police officer who pretended her daughter had cancer in order to take time off work has been jailed for 18 months.
Rachel Hewitt, 39, of Ash Grove, South Elmsall, West Yorkshire, admitted fraud and misconduct in public office earlier this year at Hull Crown Court.
She claimed she had to miss shifts at North Yorkshire Police because her daughter needed chemotherapy.
In fact, the court heard, the teenager was participating in show-jumping events.
Between January 1 2009 and October 10 2011, the police force gave Hewitt, a constable at the time, compassionate leave.
She was given a four-day week to accommodate her fake family situation and colleagues organised whip-rounds to give her and her daughter gifts.
Jailing Hewitt, Judge Simon Jack said she had shown an "extreme breach of trust" by telling the lie for about two years before her arrest last year.
She also claimed her daughter had developed other conditions during her treatment.
Prosecutor Simon Batiste said: "On May 1 2010, she indicated her daughter had been hospitalised with pneumonia and would undergo treatment on May 7. In fact, her daughter was competing that very day at the Port Royal Showground."
Judge Jack was unflinching in his criticisms of Hewitt's behaviour.
He told her: "Nobody thought for a moment somebody would lie about something so serious, so emotive as the health of their child. That's why you got away with it for so long."
(NE)
Rachel Hewitt, 39, of Ash Grove, South Elmsall, West Yorkshire, admitted fraud and misconduct in public office earlier this year at Hull Crown Court.
She claimed she had to miss shifts at North Yorkshire Police because her daughter needed chemotherapy.
In fact, the court heard, the teenager was participating in show-jumping events.
Between January 1 2009 and October 10 2011, the police force gave Hewitt, a constable at the time, compassionate leave.
She was given a four-day week to accommodate her fake family situation and colleagues organised whip-rounds to give her and her daughter gifts.
Jailing Hewitt, Judge Simon Jack said she had shown an "extreme breach of trust" by telling the lie for about two years before her arrest last year.
She also claimed her daughter had developed other conditions during her treatment.
Prosecutor Simon Batiste said: "On May 1 2010, she indicated her daughter had been hospitalised with pneumonia and would undergo treatment on May 7. In fact, her daughter was competing that very day at the Port Royal Showground."
Judge Jack was unflinching in his criticisms of Hewitt's behaviour.
He told her: "Nobody thought for a moment somebody would lie about something so serious, so emotive as the health of their child. That's why you got away with it for so long."
(NE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy. Also mainly dry at first this evening but then occasional outbreaks of rain developing overnight. Light southwest winds, and staying mild. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
