Humberside Police officer gets suspended sentence for forging witness signatures
Bethany Hemstock, 30, forged signatures on three witness statements linked to shop thefts in Hull. She received an eight-month suspended sentence at Grimsby Crown Court.
Former Humberside officer sentenced for forging witness statements in Hull theft cases
A former Humberside Police officer has received a suspended jail sentence after forging signatures on witness statements, bbc.com reports.
Bethany Hemstock, 30, of Bounty Drive, Hull, signed three statements in other people's names in connection with shop thefts that took place in Hull between 31 October and 12 December 2024.
Hemstock had already admitted misconduct in public office before appearing at Grimsby Crown Court on Monday, where Judge John Thackray KC sentenced her to eight months, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
Thackray acknowledged Hemstock's prior record as an officer, saying: "All of that hard work, bravery and diligence has been undone by your catastrophic error of judgement."
Prosecution counsel Mollie Briggs told the court that Hemstock had explained she would regularly contact stores by phone to gather details of thefts while working in Humberside Police's shop theft department. She forged the signatures, the judge said, in order to "speed up the process of detection of shoplifters."
All three individuals whose names appeared on the statements denied having signed them. One person told the court they felt they were "being painted as a liar" because "everyone was telling me I'd given a statement when I hadn't."
Thackray was clear about the motive, stating: "It should be clearly understood that was your motive, not to implicate an innocent person but to speed up the process of those who had committed shop thefts by signing statements based on information you had received."
Despite that framing, he described the offence as "extremely serious" and one that "undermines the public's confidence in police officers."
The judge noted that Hemstock had been of "previous good character" and had been commended by a chief constable on three separate occasions — for assisting a suicidal woman, for confronting a man who threatened an acid attack and was armed with a shotgun, and for helping a pregnant woman.
Thackray also noted that at the time of the incidents Hemstock had been "feeling overwhelmed with work" and "had very significant family and personal responsibilities."
Concluding his remarks, the judge said: "I have very little doubt you will ever appear before a court again. I'm satisfied an appropriate sentence can be achieved in the community."
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)