A FORMER West Mercia Police has been given a six month suspended prison sentence for fraud by false representation.
Former PC Ethan Aherne, 28, who was based in south Worcestershire, appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 29 September 2023.
Aherne was off sick claiming he had a back injury, but was working another job and playing rugby on a regular basis while still employed by West Mercia Police.
Officers from the force anti-corruption unit traveled to Cardiff where they saw him playing rugby during their investigation.
Aherne was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and pay back the £13,000 of police salary he obtained fraudulently during his sickness period.
He resigned from the force in December 2022 after 15 months service and will now face misconduct proceedings.
Assistant chief constable Rachel Jones, said: “I’m pleased that Aherne has faced justice today for his offences.
“Officers have a gruelling job and we have a wide range of support mechanisms in place to support them with both their physical and mental health.
“Aherne totally abused the support systems in place, taking up valuable resources and money.
“His actions were dishonest and immoral. Officers like him have no place in our force.
“Today’s outcome is another example of our continued mission to root out corrupt officers.”
