In brief: Crown Prosecutor lied to protect boyfriend

A Crown Prosecutor has been found guilty by an Old Bailey jury of attempting to pervert the course of public justice after she lied to soften the blow of a drink drive charge against her police detective boyfriend. Penelope Schofield, 35, told police that Detective Constable Nigel Phillips only took the wheel of his car while drunk after she hit a kerb. But it was discovered that Schofield had not been in the car and was covering up to get Phillips a more sympathetic court hearing. Schofield was released on bail until 5 December for sentencing and faces the possibility of being struck off the Solicitors' Roll by the Law Society.