A Merseyside Police officer, who pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and forgery, has been jailed for three years and four months, and dismissed from the force.

An investigation carried out by Merseyside Police, and managed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), looked at allegations that Sergeant Colin Hughes, 34, made false statements and forged a police document.

The officer, suspended throughout the investigation and subsequent criminal proceedings, carried out the offences as a temporary inspector with the force between July 2014 and December 2015.

At a misconduct hearing held in his absence earlier today, by the force, the officer was dismissed without notice.

The decision to charge was made by the Crown Prosecution Service. Hughes today appeared before Manchester Crown Court where he had previously pleaded guilty to the charges during an appearance on 12 June 2017.