Policeman who attacked pregnant ex-girlfriend convicted of deception (From Bournemouth Echo)

Policeman Matthew Cherry, who attacked pregnant ex-girlfriend, is convicted of deception

9:30am Saturday 16th March 2013 in News By Paula Roberts

Matthew Cherry

A POLICEMAN jailed for savagely attacking his pregnant ex-girlfriend has been convicted of lying about his earnings to secure mortgages.

Matthew James Cherry, who worked as a patrol officer in Poole for nine years, was found guilty in September last year of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and jailed for 10 years.

The court had heard he was attempting to destroy the couple’s unborn child.

Last week Cherry was found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of two counts of obtaining services by deception, in 2003 and 2004. He was a serving police officer when the offences were committed.

The court heard Cherry took out two mortgages with UCB Home Loans on properties in Western Road, Branksome, and Norwich Mansions West, Bournemouth, by inflating his police earnings and falsely claiming he had a second job as a fitness instructor.

In one application Cherry claimed he was earning £38,000 but was actually paid £30,657, and in the second application he bumped his earnings up to £41,840.

Cherry was jailed for 27 months on each count to run concurrently with his existing prison sentence.

Dorset Police will be applying to confiscate Cherry’s assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

DC David Baker, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This conviction follows a detailed investigation by Dorset Police.

“Matt Cherry was suspended from his duties as soon as his crimes came to light and we can confirm that he resigned from the force on November 3 2011 – before the charges were brought against him.

“Dorset Police is committed to serving and protecting our communities and officers and staff continue to strive to work to a very high standard. Clearly Cherry’s behaviour fell below this standard.”

Cherry wore a balaclava, hoodie and gloves when he attacked six-month pregnant Caroline Craft in her flat in Norwich Avenue, Bourne-mouth, in March 2011.

The court heard Cherry punched her in her face, stomach and back 20-30 times in an attempt to bring on a miscarriage. Miss Craft went on to give birth to a healthy baby boy called Archie.

In October last year Cherry lodged an application for leave to appeal his conviction and sentence. A date for a hearing at the Court of Appeal is yet to be fixed.