UK policeman admits lying in 2012 'plebgate' row that engulfed minister
Government minister was forced to resign in 2012 after he allegedly called officers 'plebs'
A British policeman yesterday admitted he falsely claimed to have witnessed a row over a bicycle that brought down a government minister.
Keith Wallis, 53, a police constable, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office by pretending he had witnessed the argument between former Conservative chief whip Andrew Mitchell and an officer at the gates of Prime Minister David Cameron's Downing Street residence in September 2012.
Mitchell was forced to resign over claims he called officers guarding Downing Street "f***ing plebs" because they refused to let him go through the gate with his bike. He was also said to have told them, "Know your f***ing place".
Mitchell admitted he swore but denied using the word "pleb", a derogatory term for the lower social classes. He was forced to resign over the so-called "plebgate" row a few weeks later.
I am pleased that justice has been done in a criminal court today
His allies claim police lied about the incident to discredit Cameron's government as it was imposing major cuts to the national police budget.
Wallis admitted at London's Old Bailey court that he lied in an e-mail to his local member of parliament that he was present during the row, and admitted arranging for his nephew to support the claim.