A CORRUPT police officer from Hawick has been jailed for 18 months for sabotaging cases involving child abuse.

Former detective constable Sharon Patterson, who is 49, and her 47-year-old colleague Lee Pollard forged documents, concealed evidence and lied about investigations, the Old Bailey in London was told.

Jurors heard that on one occasion Patterson ditched work to get a manicure and have a four-hour lunch at a Chinese restaurant with her married lover.

Patterson, who now lives in Colchester, Essex, denied wrongdoing between 2011 and 2014, citing administrative chaos at the child abuse unit where they worked.

But they were both convicted of misconduct in public office.

Judge Nigel Lickley QC jailed Patterson for 18 months and Pollard for two years.

He told them they had shown "contempt" for victims when they chose to shut down investigations rather than put in the work believing they would never be found out.