An ex police officer who lied about her daughter having cancer so she could take her to show jumping events has been jailed.

Rachel Hewitt, 39, claimed the teenager was having chemotherapy for a tumour and had been critically ill in intensive care.

Her force gave her compassionate leave, special work shifts and colleagues even organised whip-rounds to buy gifts.

But a court heard her daughter was actually taking part in riding contests.

Simon Batiste, prosecuting, said: “It is implicit in the job of police officer that the public expect the highest level of honesty and integrity from the officers who serve the community.

“Sadly, in this case, the defendant, by deliberately fabricating emotive family problems to obtain time off, then a career break, acted wholly dishonestly and her behaviour fell far below that standard expected by the public.”

He said mum-of-two Hewitt took “considerable periods off from work” and was put on a four-day week after claiming her daughter, Natasha, 15, was ill.

“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,” he said,

On another occasion, in January last year, Hewitt claimed Natasha had been in intensive care for eight days after suffering a life-threatening infection, and was granted compassionate leave.

“In fact, that weekend, Natasha was acting as a groom to a friend at an equestrian event,” said Mr Batiste.

Hewitt was arrested at her home in South Emsall, West Yorks, and made no comment during police interviews.
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