TWO police officers have been cleared of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
PC Jennifer Adderley and DC Dave Hall were found not guilty at Chester Crown Court and Adderley was also acquitted of misconduct in a public office.
Senior staff in Macclesfield police say they will be able to learn from the case which saw 'officers pitted against officers'.
Judge Stephen Clarke said that a lot of lessons had already been learnt and people involved had gone through a lot of anguish.
During the case Chief Inspector Paul Keeling, Divisonal Commander at Macclesfield had appeared as a character witness for Mrs Adderley, who works as a dog handler, and he said: "I am saddened that she is here today."
The charges related to an incident on October 27 last year when a member of the public phoned police after believing that CID officer Dave Hall, was driving while drunk after spending the evening in the Jar Bar on Park Lane.
Mr Hall was stopped by Jennifer Adderley, 33, who assessed the situation and accepted Mr Hall's explanation that he had not been drinking but had been feeling ill all night.
The court heard that Mrs Adderley did not breathalyse him and arranged for him and his passenger to have a lift home with two rookie officers who were also at the scene.
The jury heard evidence from Michelle Armitt and Dan Gorman, the two constables, who claimed that Mrs Adderley had said Mr Hall was drunk and she was in a "catch 22 situation" and would not breathalyse him.
The court heard that originally the two had not mentioned this in a statement but had later changed their stories.
Mr Hall's counsel for defence, Bob Platts, said this was when they realised it was a choice of them both being in the dock or the witness box.
Justice Clarke told the jury: "This is undoubtedly an unusual case. It is extremely rare to see police officers making accusations against other police officers. Is this a case of misguided loyalty - one law for one and one for another - or a case of an officer carrying out her duties."
Chief Insp Keeling was in court for the verdict and gave Mrs Adderley a wink and reassuring okay sign before the jury returned to give their verdict.
When he was giving evidence he said: "Jennifer Adderley is professional in her approach. I've never had to question or doubt in my mind her integrity. She patrols Macclesfield and she patrols it well."
Justice Clarke had asked Chief Insp Keeling about the use of police cars to give people lifts home.
He replied: "If you are acting as a good samaritan in your capacity as a police officer and give somebody a lift because they were ill, I can see no problem with that."
He told the court that giving someone a lift not in the line of duty was a different matter altogether.
He made the court laugh when he said it would not be appropriate for him to take his wife shopping in a police car. "It's definitely not a taxi service," he said.
Justice Clarke thanked the jury and said: "It was an important case and people's lives were on the line. If they had been found guilty they would have gone to prison.
"Officers were pitted against officers and this case is a great learning process for those in charge of Macclesfield. There are many fences to be mended and wounds to be healed."
A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "We are aware of the verdict and consideration will be given as to whether internal disciplinary procedures are appropriate. The Police Complaints Authority has been informed."
