Porky Telling Plod Gets 'Out of Jail' Card

I’ve heard some excuses in my time for not sending bent coppers to jail.

This time it was because it would cost too much to protect him from other prisoners.

Jeff McDermid, 42, admitted inducing a confession, attempting to get a sheriff to accept false evidence and providing false evidence to Northern Constabulary's professional standard and conduct unit.

At Inverness Sheriff Court, Sheriff Ian Abercrombie sentenced him to 240-hours community service as an alternative to jail.

The sheriff said McDermid had brought the reputation of Northern Constabulary into disrepute.

Likewise the sheriff - as far as the criminal justice system is concerned.