A Greenwich borough volunteer police officer has been jailed for perverting the course of justice after providing a false alibi.

Ben Sawyer, 26, a serving Metropolitan Police volunteer special constable, was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, June 28.

The officer was off-duty on July 26, 2013, when he gave a false alibi and statement in relation to a report of grievous bodily harm.

The officer was not involved in the assault, but provided an alibi for one of the suspects.

In delivering his sentence Judge Mann said: "You [MSC Sawyer] more than most would appreciate the importance of the public having confidence in people entrusted to uphold the law.

"The police must be trusted, honest and relied upon to tell the truth.

"Giving a false alibi is a terrible matter.

"As soon as you showed your warrant card you knew it would have an influence on the attending officers who had turned up to arrest the suspect for an assault."

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Chief Superintendent Matt Gardner, OCU Commander of the Directorate of Professional Standards, said: "Attempting to pervert the course of justice is a serious matter.

"Being a full time officer or as in this case, a volunteer, performing the role as a ‘Special Constable’, there is no excuse whatsoever.

"The public look to us for honesty and Sawyer failed the Met, himself and the public by his actions."

MSC Sawyer was sentenced to 12 months in prison, however will serve half of the sentence on licence.

He was made to pay £100 costs.

The officer had been placed on restricted duties.

Now that the criminal proceedings have concluded, a misconduct review will take place.

Sawyer was charged on August 29, 2014 and was found guilty of perverting the course of justice on Thursday, June 2 at Woolwich Crown Court.