A POLICEMAN and his ex-girlfriend who lied in court so he could avoid a drink-driving ban have been found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
Michael Turner, 44, of Hawkes Road, Witham, was caught drink-driving two years ago after his girlfriend at the time, Nicola Howell, reported him to police.
At his hearing at Witham Magistrates' Court in September 2010, Turner, a highly-commended firearms officer with the Metropolitan Police, received the lowest form of penalty when Howell, 49, then said that she had laced his lime and soda drinks with vodka without him knowing because he had a stressful day.
But Howell, who runs her own botox business, later admitted to police that she lied, claiming she did so under duress because she was frightened of Turner.
However, during the pair's trial at Chelmsford Crown Court last week, the court heard that it was in fact Howell, also a nurse specialising in domestic violence at Southend hospital, who admitted being violent towards Turner, slapping him on at least two occasions.
During Howell's cross-examination, Turner's defence barrister Simon Livingstone said: "What you admit to a certain extent is that you were the violent one in this relationship.
"You had a big problem in so much as you believed Michael Turner had told his family you were a violent drunk.
"As far as he was concerned, he was fit to drive. I'm going to suggest that the reason you phoned the police was because you didn't want him to leave your house, because you knew your relationship was going down the pan.
"You felt guilty because he was arrested, and you felt guilty because it was you putting vodka in his drinks that resulted in him being over the limit."
The jury heard that it was after their court appearance in 2010 that an officer in the case became suspicious of Howell's story.
When questioned agin, Howell said she had lied after being threatened by Turner, despite going on three holidays with him that summer.
David Holborn, prosecuting, said: "The Crown does not accept that you were under any duress. If the Crown did accept it, you would not be stood in the dock now.
"You were on holiday with a man you were afraid was going to kill you, but hereby hangs the problem: it is not the action of someone who is scared of being killed, is it?"
During Michael Turner's questioning he explained that he would not have risked drink-driving because the loss of his driving licence would have resulted in him losing his job and access to his severely autistic daughter, who is now 12. He has been suspended from his job since November 2010.
Turner maintained that, unknown to him, Howell added vodka to two pints of lime and soda that he drank that evening to relax him after a stressful day, although he had knowingly drunk two pints of Guinness earlier.
He was twice the legal alcohol limit, and told officers arresting him that they were on the "same side" and even invited them inside for a cup of tea.
However, in personal videos recorded by Turner that were used as evidence against him, it appeared as though the couple were arguing about their appearance in court. Howell could be heard telling Turner that she would "blow him out of the water."
After the five-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, the jury found both defendants guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
When the verdict was announced on Tuesday, Turner's current partner sobbed and Howell's family shook their heads.
Judge David Turner QC said: "I will admit both defendants to bail. That's not to be taken as an indication that anything other than an immediate prison sentence may be the case."
Sentencing will take place on November 9.
