A POLICE officer has appeared in court accused of fraud and perverting the course of justice.

The Surrey officer is accused of providing false and misleading information to a criminal investigation into a fellow member of the force.

Amanda Aston, from Seaford, is charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice and fraud in Guildford between September 2017 and June 2018.

She allegedly provided false and misleading information to police between September 3 and September 17, 2017, in connection with a probe into whether Sergeant Matthew Taylor had committed a crime.

Aston, 42, is also accused of encouraging Sgt Taylor to breach his bail conditions and providing false and misleading information in connection with an investigation between September 26, 2017, and March 22, 2018.

The fraud charge alleges the officer made a false representation to the Surrey Police welfare fund, which offers financial help to serving and retired officers and staff, between June 1 and June 30, 2018.

She is said to have claimed the behaviour of Sgt Taylor “had caused financial hardship”.

Aston appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning, dressed in black.

She spoke to confirm her name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing, where she was not asked to enter any pleas.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court, where Aston will appear on December 14.

She was granted bail with a single condition that she does not contact Sgt Taylor directly or indirectly.

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