A former West Mercia Police Officer, Clare Stretton was sentenced on Friday, June 17th at Hereford Crown court for the offence of misconduct in a public office, which included failing to investigate complaints made by members of the public.The 49-year-old admitted failing to investigate a number of complaints and reports from the public, over seven years.At Hereford Crown Court, Miss Stretton received eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and she was given 140 hours community service. She had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Miss Stretton made headlines in National newspapers in October last year, after she was sacked from West Mercia Police. It was claimed that she began an inappropriate relationship with an elderly man, Charles Foulkes; she was appointed his family liaison officer after his son was murdered, but Mr Foulkes' daughters alleged that she extracted £100,000 of his money, which had been left to him by his murdered son.

Detective Superintendent Gary Watson, Head of Professional Standards for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police said: "Clare Stretton was dismissed from West Mercia Police in October 2015 for discreditable conduct and a breach of honesty and integrity, a clear violation of our standards and Code of Ethics. As soon as we became aware of this violation we undertook an investigation which resulted in this criminal conviction."