A POLICE officer has been jailed for nearly a year after stalking a former colleague and hacking into his online profiles.

Moodiesburn woman Ashley Boyd became obsessed with the Kevin O'Connor, who she worked with before joining the force.

The 26-year-old hacked into his email and social media accounts, posted offensive comments on his Twitter page, and even cancelled a hospital appointment for his wife.

She also had conversations with his friends on Facebook, pretending to be him, and made out that he was unhappy in his marriage.

In an attempt to conceal what she had done, she persuaded a friend to admit to hacking the Twitter account and take the blame.

Les Brown, Head of the Criminal Allegations Against the Police Division, said:

“Ashley Boyd placed an innocent couple in a state of fear and alarm through her criminal behaviour.

“There was no justification for the abusive messages and the invasion of their personal lives.

“Boyd’s decision to exploit a friend to evade investigation and prosecution exacerbated the tremendously difficult situation she had created. “

Boyd was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court to 11 months behind bars, and received a five-year non-harassment order after admitting he charges.

She was charged with stalking and attempting to pervert the course of justice.