A former student officer has been sentenced after perverting the course of justice.

Joseph Mudd, 19, has been sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

It comes after the former West Mercia student received a speeding ticket and falsely claimed a family member had been driving so that they would take the points on their licence.

Deputy chief constable Alex Murray said: “The public expect the very highest standards of professional behaviour and integrity from police officers and rightfully so.

“We will not hesitate to investigate criminal offences that come to light as we would with any member of the public.”

On 26 April 2022, a car driven by Mudd was caught speeding, when it was captured by a mobile speed enforcement camera travelling at a speed of 65mph in a 50mph zone.

Rather than admit his guilt after the notice of intended prosecution was sent to his home address, he agreed a plan with his mother and stepfather that his stepfather would take the blame.

Mudd then recorded on the notice of intended prosecution reply form that his stepfather Matthew Mudd, 36, was driving the car at the time, which led to him receiving a £100 fine and three points on his licence.

Mudd’s offences came to light after he bragged to his fellow officers that he had been driving the car but his stepfather took the points.

He pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at Worcester Magistrates Court on February 9.

Yesterday (Wednesday March 22) Mudd, who has since resigned from the force was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court.

As was his mother Caroline Mudd, 42, and stepfather.

All three were sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 200 hours of unpaid work and costs of £510 to be split between the three of them, to be paid in full within three weeks.

Emily Clewer of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Police officers should be held to high standards and are expected to be moral beacons in our society, and it is a gross breach of trust when those we expect to fiercely uphold the law commits a crime.

"Joseph Mudd colluded with his family members to deliberately deceive the court. Thankfully, his colleagues reported him as soon as they became aware of his inexcusable conduct, and all three defendants have now been sentenced for their crimes.

"Those who lie to the court to avoid facing the consequences of their actions can expect to be prosecuted as the law allows when they are caught.”

Misconduct proceedings will now take place, West Mercia Police has confirmed.