Lucy-Anne Rushton murder detective jailed for witness signature forgery

Lucy-Anne Rushton was murdered by her estranged husband in 2019

A former detective has been jailed for eight months for forging a witness's signature during a murder inquiry.

Robert Ferrow, 50, from Gosport, Hampshire, let the witness sign blank pages on a statement and go home, but added more signatures when he ran out of pre-signed sheets.

He had been investigating the murder of Lucy-Anne Rushton in 2019.

The judge said Hampshire police was reviewing other cases involving the ex-officer.

Passing sentence, Recorder James Watson QC, added Ferrow was guilty of "criminal laziness".

Shaun Dyson was jailed for a minimum of 17 years for the murder

Mother-of-five Ms Rushton, 30, was killed by her estranged husband Shaun Dyson in the early hours of 23 June 2019.

Dyson then absconded from police and was found several hours later hiding in a cupboard at the murder scene in Andover.

Witness Ashley Grace-O'Neill gave a police statement shortly after his friend, Dyson, was arrested, Winchester Crown Court previously heard.

Ferrow, who had 18 years' experience as a police officer, allowed the witness to sign blank pages and go home, his trial was told.

He then signed more pages himself when he ran out of sheets, prosecutors said.

'Shocking dishonesty'

Ferrow accurately transcribed text conversations on to the new sheets to complete the statement, the jury heard.

Robert Bryan, prosecuting, previously told the court the conduct "strikes right at the heart of justice".

Recorder Watson said: "It's shocking that an experienced police officer such as you should commit such an act of dishonesty. It was laziness to a criminal degree."

The judge said the forgery could have damaged the witness's evidence at the murder trial.

He ordered the former detective constable to pay prosecution costs of £3,000 and a £140 victim surcharge.

Fiona Ryan, defending, said Ferrow was a former police Probationer of the Year, who had won police commendations in 2016 and 2019.

She said the officer had resigned from the force and would eventually move away from the area.

However, in a statement, Hampshire Constabulary said Ferrow was merely suspended from service.

Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said: "The actions of Det Con Ferrow have undermined the trust and confidence our communities have in us.

"Our thoughts remain with Lucy's family... It is completely unacceptable that the actions of a police officer have caused them extra distress."

The case against Ferrow was brought following an 11-month investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

In December 2019, Dyson was jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years after pleading guilty to the murder.