'Plebgate' policeman jailed for 12 months for misconduct

A Metropolitan Police officer has been jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to a charge of misconduct in public office over the "plebgate" scandal last month.

Pc Keith Wallis, 53, falsely claimed in an email that he had witnessed an incident in Downing Street involving the former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell and other officers in September 2012.

David Cameron said it was "completely unacceptable" for a police officer to falsify their account of an incident after PC Keith Wallis pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office over the "plebgate" affair.

The Prime Minister said: “It is completely unacceptable for a serving police officer to falsify an account of any incident.

"Andrew Mitchell has consistently denied the version of events presented in the email and I welcome the fact that the officer concerned has now pleaded guilty.”

Appearing outside Sutton Coldfield Town Hall Andrew Mitchell MP has refused to comment further about the guilty plea of a police officer in the 'plebgate' row.

In an earlier statement, the MP said, "I am very pleased that justice has been done in a criminal court today."

"It is very sad and worrying for all of us that a serving police officer should have behaved in this way. There remain many questions unanswered, in particular why PC Wallis wrote this email and who else was involved in the process."

Scotland Yard has said that PC Keith Wallis, who has admitted falsely claiming to have witnessed the Plebgate row, will face a misconduct hearing at the conclusion of all legal proceedings.

It will relate to "discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity, and/or improper disclosure of information".

Four other officers have a case to answer for gross misconduct and will be subject to a misconduct hearing in relation to improper disclosure of information, the force said, with the earliest time the hearings can be held said to be in March.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has apologised to former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell after an officer admitted lying about the 'plebgate' affair.

He said: "This investigation has been a ruthless search for the truth as at the heart of this are extremely damaging allegations that officers have lied and falsified statements against a Cabinet Minister.

"The evidence against Pc Wallis was such that he has entered a guilty plea. To lie about witnessing something and provide a false account falls way below the standards that I and Pc Wallis's colleague expect of police officers.

"His actions have also negatively impacted upon public trust and confidence in the integrity of police officers.

"I would also like to apologise to Mr Mitchell that an MPS officer clearly lied about seeing him behaving in a certain manner. I will be writing to him offering to meet and apologise in person.

Read: Andrew Mitchell 'pleased that justice has been done'

The Old Bailey today heard that Pc Keith Wallis had offered his resignation and admitted misconduct in public office over the 'plebgate' affair in an police interview before pleading guilty at the first opportunity in court.

Read: Police officer pleads guilty to misconduct over 'plebgate'

The MP for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell, has welcomed a policeman's guilty plea in the 'Plebgate' case.

PC Keith Wallis plead guilty at the Old Bailey to misconduct in public office after wrongly claiming he had seen what happened in the Downing Street confrontation between Mitchell and PC Toby Rowland.

A police officer accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed a row between Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell and another officer has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office at the Old Bailey.

PC Keith Wallis was charged after sending an email to Conservative deputy chief whip John Randall, inaccurately claiming he had seen the dispute between Mitchell and PC Toby Rowland in Downing Street.

Mitchell admitted that he swore during the row, but denied PC Rowland's claim he called him a 'pleb'.

PC Wallis is due to be sentenced on February 6.

A police officer charged in connection with the 'Plebgate' affair, involving Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell, has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.

PC Keith Wallis was accused of falsely claiming he saw a row between Mitchell and officers in Downing Street.

The police officer charged in connection with the 'Plebgate' affair, involving Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell, will appear at Crown Court later.

PC Keith Wallis is accused of falsely claiming he saw a row between Mitchell and officers in Downing Street.

He is accused of sending an email to his local MP with the claim.