Ex-PC and partner sentenced for speed offence lies

A former West Yorkshire Police officer and her partner have been sentenced after lying about a speeding offence.

Abigail Byrne was caught speeding on the A629 Wakefield Road in Huddersfield on 29 and 31 January 2025 but her partner, Sharndelle Firth, later took responsibility for the offence by accepting the penalty points and attending a speed awareness course.

The pair, from Barnsley, each admitted two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at an earlier hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.

Byrne, 29, received a 14-month suspended sentence and 28-year-old Firth was given an eight-month suspended sentence.

West Yorkshire Police said Byrne, who was based in Huddersfield but resigned from the force in April, was caught speeding on the route she would normally take to get to work.

Text messages showed how Byrne and Firth had discussed the penalty points and how to manage the situation.

Det Ch Supt Tanya Wilkins said the public expected officers and staff to "act with honesty and integrity both on and off duty" and Byrne had breached those standards.

"This sentencing should reassure the public that those who fall short of these standards will be brought to justice just like anyone else."

In addition to her suspended sentence Byrne was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

Firth was told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Both were also told to pay £800 in costs.

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