Former Southend Hospital nurse to face tribunal over Met Police officer lie

Nicola Howell was a senior sister at Southend Hospital when she lied in court

A nurse could be struck off after she lied to a court about a former police firearms officer caught speeding.

Nicola Howell, who worked in accident and emergency at Southend Hospital, was jailed for six months at Chelmsford Crown Court last year.

She had lied during the trial of former boyfriend Michael Turner, who feared losing his Met Police job if convicted.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council panel will decide on Friday whether Howell is fit to work as a nurse.

Turner, of Witham in Essex, was jailed for 18 months for perverting the course of justice.

During the court case, it emerged Howell and Turner had an argument on 9 May 2010. Turner drove from her home in Canewdon to Witham when he was twice the legal alcohol limit.

Howell contacted the police to tell them he was over the limit. Turner was arrested at home and charged with drinking and driving.

But at his trial before magistrates later that year, Howell, who at the time worked as a senior accident and emergency sister, said she had laced his drink with alcohol.

He was given an absolute discharge.

When she was later arrested, Howell, a grandmother who also runs a beauty business, admitted she had perjured herself claiming he had forced her to lie by threatening her.