Ex-police officer jailed after speed offence lies

A former police officer who admitted perverting the course of justice by lying about a speeding offence has been jailed.

Sabrina Kaur, 23, of Luton, worked as a police community support officer for Bedfordshire Police, when the offence was committed in April 2022.

Kaur, who later became a police officer, was given a 16-month jail term by Judge Philip Grey Cambridge Crown Court on Friday.

A judge was told that she had agreed to "take the points" for the driver, who she had a "short relationship" with.

Prosecutor Gavin Pottinger told the court how a speed camera clocked Kaur's Mercedes travelling at 53mph (85km/h) in a 30mph (48km/h) zone on the evening of 28 April 2022.

He said fellow PCSO Michael Tura, who held a provisional licence, was driving and she was a passenger.

Kaur had not been driving long enough to supervise a learner and the car did not have "L" plates, said Mr Pottinger.

She claimed she was driving and was fined £472 by a magistrate and her licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

Mr Pottinger indicated that Kaur was not on duty when the offence was committed.

Later in 2023, Mr Pottinger said she admitted to police colleagues that she "agreed to take the points" - and she was subsequently investigated.

Kaur asked Mr Tura to "maintain" her account if questioned by investigators, but he covertly recorded the conversation.

She admitted perverting the course of justice earlier this year and Bedfordshire Police said she resigned from the force.

Minal Rajshakha, Kaur's defence lawyer, told Judge Grey that her client and Mr Tura were in a "short relationship".

The lawyer said what Kaur did was "stupid, misguided loyalty".

Kaur now worked in a sports shop and was "getting on with it", the judge was told.

He heard that her parents were "very active" in the Luton community.

Judge Grey said Mr Tura had denied being in a relationship with Kaur.

Kaur "bizarrely" told colleagues what she had done, the judge continued.

"Nobody wants to think that those who are responsible for policing our state are dishonest or corrupt," he said.

"Actions of this kind undermine the entire system of justice."

Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst said, after the hearing: “The behaviour displayed by this officer was an appalling breach of trust, for which there is no place in our force.

“This was a calculated course of conduct by the officer who sought to mislead the justice system and in turn the public."

Mr Tura was also accused of perverting the course of justice, but he was found not guilty at his trial.

Adil Rahman, aged in his 20s, was also charged with and denied the same charge - but prosecutors offered no evidence against him.

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