'Two police officers failed to investigate a string of child sex allegations properly due to a combination of laziness and "cynical disdain" for the victims, a court has heard.
Detective Constables, Sharon Patterson, 49, and Lee Pollard, 47, who worked for Essex Police are accused of deliberately forging documents and concealing evidence over a three-year period.
The pair, who were in a relationship, are also alleged to have fabricated witness statements and given other false information which led to abuse investigations being dropped.
On the opening day of their trial at the Old Bailey, Alexandra Healy QC, prosecuting, said the motive appeared to be a combination of laziness, self preservation and a failure to take complainants seriously.
She said: "The allegations against them involve the forging of documents, concealment of evidence and the misrepresentation of the state of investigations, and the evidence involved in investigations, to supervising officers.
"The effect was that allegations involving child sex offences were not properly investigated.
"The motivation appears to have been a combination of laziness, self-preservation and sometimes a cynical disdain for complainants in these child abuse allegations."'
Read more: Police officers sabotaged child abuse investigations through 'laziness', court hears
