Married police officer cleared of 'snogging wanted man'

By Leanna MacLarty

A police officer accused of a late-night fling with a man wanted on a court warrant has been cleared by a sheriff.

Paula Wales, a constable with Tayside Police, was charged with of neglecting her duty by failing to pass on the whereabouts of John Sheridan or his telephone number after meeting him at his mother's house on December 19 2009.

Mr Sheridan was being sought on a means warrant at the time after he failed to pay a £350 fine for road traffic offences.

The 36-year-old constable, of Dundee, denied wilfully neglecting her duty between November 27, 2009, and April 11, 2010, contrary to the Police (Scotland) Act.

Dundee Sheriff Court was told she knew Mr Sheridan was a wanted man from police computer records and because he told her he was a "known criminal".

The constable was cleared of the charge by sheriff Richard McFarlane following trial on Wednesday.

Wales, a local intelligence officer, broke down in tears in the dock as the verdict was read out.

Leaving court her father, David Webster, said: "I'm just glad it's all over for Paula. She's had two years of torment, but the correct verdict has been found."

The court had heard that Wales, 36, who had been at school with Mr Sheridan, had made contact with him for the first time in 18 years when she added him as a friend on her Facebook page.

Mr Sheridan told the court Wales turned up at his mother's home in the Lochee area of Dundee in the early hours of December 19.

He said they "snogged" in his bedroom, but could not remember if things had gone further. She left after about an hour.

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