A disgraced former police officer has admitted falsifying a witness statement in a domestic abuse case.

Neal Murray, formerly of Cleveland Police, created the false evidence and signed an entry under a victim’s name in his electronic pocket notebook in November 2020.

The 47-year-old was investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after a number of allegations were made against him.

Murray pleaded guilty today (Tuesday, August 27) before a trial at Teesside Crown Court was set to start.

A misconduct hearing in May ruled that Murray should be dismissed without notice and that he should be placed on the Police Barred List to prevent him working for any other force in the country.

The IOPC investigation showed that Murray attended a domestic incident on October 29, 2020, involving a report of criminal damage and undertook initial investigative tasks including meeting the victim at their home and taking an initial statement.

The disgraced officer said he returned to the address a month later and was advised by the victim that they wanted to retract their original statement  - which they signed to confirm on his electronic notebook. This led to PC Murray closing the investigation and he informed his supervisor that the victim did not support a prosecution.

The victim subsequently said that Murray had not come to their home on November 21 and nor had they completed any document to say that they wished to retract their complaint.

Data analysed by investigators showed that when the retraction statement was completed, PC Murray was in the immediate vicinity of Hartlepool Police Station, not the home address where the alleged crime had been committed.

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A review of the signature on the retraction statement also showed distinct differences to the original statement which the victim confirmed they signed and the one on PC Murray’s electronic pocket notebook.

IOPC Regional Director Emily Barry said: “This was a deliberate and dishonest act designed to end an investigation into a complaint made by a member of public. He has shown a lack of professionalism, a lack of respect for the rights of members of the public and of the law, and grossly breached his authority.

“As an experienced police officer, he would have known the importance of providing accurate information on a witness statement and the implications of not doing so. His actions had the potential to seriously undermine aspects of legitimacy within the police service.”

Murray, of Middlesbrough, will be sentenced on October 17 at Teesside Crown Court.