A police constable who lied to investigators after crashing into a moped driver causing him serious injuries has been jailed for eight months.

Paul Baker, 30, a former Kingston officer who has now left the force, knocked the moped rider off his bike at the junction of Garratt Lane and Ram Street, in Wandsworth, on December 2 last year.

The rider sustained serious leg injuries and was rushed to hospital but 12 months on has still not fully recovered from his injuries.

Deceitful Baker, who was on his way back to his base having been working in central London, told his bosses he had been in a marked police car in a high-speed pursuit of a suspect.

But when the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) launched an investigation and viewed CCTV, which covered the three miles that Baker travelled through London, there was no evidence of the vehicle he claimed to be chasing.

The DPS found he had been travelling at speeds of over 50 mph, in 30mph zones, using his blue lights and sirens.

When Baker was challenged about the DPS's findings he belatedly admitted that he had lied to cover his back.

Commander Allan Gibson, from the DPS, said: "Every officer in the Met who is trained to drive using blue lights knows the responsibility that goes with using them, Baker abused these important emergency driving procedures and was using them inappropriately.

"Officers are not above the law, we expect high standards of our officers and the DPS will take action against those who are found to let the rest of the service and the public down."

Baker pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to dangerous driving and misconduct in a public office.

He was jailed at the same court on December 5 and was sentenced to two months imprisonment for dangerous driving and six months imprisonment for misconduct in a public office.

The two sentences are to run consecutively.

Baker was placed on restricted duties and resigned from the MPS on January 19 this year.