A former Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Bury PC has been banned from being an officer after lying about her mum's death to get time off work.

A GMP misconduct hearing was told former officer Melissa Hodson informed her supervisors that her mum had been taken ill in May 2021 and she needed time off for hospital visits.

Read more: New Home Bargains shop opening in Prestwich after shop change

She then told her colleagues that her mum had died.

And in September 2021 she said her mum's house had been burgled.

But all of her claims were later proved to be false following an investigation by GMP’s professional standards branch.

Read more: Hawkshaw community garden to be opened this weekend

Hodson admitted her actions amounted to gross misconduct in a letter submitted prior to an "accelerated misconduct hearing" on Thursday, September 7.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson ruled she would have been dismissed had she not resigned, saying her "conduct was morally reprehensible".

Read more: Discover Bury's history in Heritage Open Days

CC Watson added: “She made a series of untrue statements to her supervision - culpability in this case is high, her actions were deliberate and persistent.

“Her actions bring the profession into disrepute and inevitably damage public confidence in policing.

“It also damages the trust colleagues have in each other – that trust has been irretrievably shattered.”

Hodson was added to the College of Policing Barred List after the hearing.

If you have a story tweet @BuryTimes or @Alicegerrard157 or email alice.gerrard@newsquest.co.uk.