A SERVING policeman has been sentenced to three years in jail for falsely reporting a child had been sexually assaulted in Uxbridge.

Hitesh Lakhani, 42, based at the Central West Command Unit, was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court of perverting the course of justice and was sentenced on Friday.

The court heard that in September 2018, while off duty, PC Lakhani called police to report an assault and an investigation was launched.

However, analysis of CCTV showed the offence did not happen.

PC Lakhani is suspended from duties and now faces a misconduct review.