Two police officers on the look out for criminals entering the country through Fishguard knocked off early 126 times in three months, a jury heard today.

Timothy Pawlett, aged 52, and Gareth Clement, 55, left the west Wales port sometimes more than two hours before they should have ended their shifts.

But they still claimed their full working hours, said Nicholas Gedge, prosecuting at Swansea crown court.

Mr Gedge said Pawlett was secretly logged leaving his post early or arriving late 72 times between November 1, 2015, and February 17, 2016.

Five times he left more than two hours earlier than he should have, 14 times between one and two hours, 30 times between 30 minutes and an hour and 23 times more than 15 minutes early.

Clement, said Mr Gedge, had twice left two hours early, nine times between one and two hours, 23 between 30 and 60 minutes and 20 times at least 15 minutes early.

It meant, added Mr Gedge, that Pawlett had been paid £1,100 for work he had not done and Clement £710.

He said the officers were supposed to be monitoring who was entering and leaving the country via a ferry to Rosslare in Ireland.

The alarm was raised when their boss, Det Sgt Ian Hardy, could not locate either men 30 minutes before their shifts should have ended.

"He was a little curious," said Mr Hedge, especially when he discovered both had recorded completing their full shifts.

The following night he parked outside Fishguard harbour and saw Clement driving away 40 minutes early.

He drove to Pawlett's home and saw his car already parked outside, which meant he must have left 30 minutes early.

DS Hardy then asked for a camera with automatic vehicle number plate recognition technology to be checked - and discovered "numerous" examples of the officers leaving early.

After their arrests neither officer disputed the data.

Clement said he had been having personal and family difficulties and Pawlett said he had been suffering from anxiety and depression.

Pawlett, of Bethany Row, Narberth Road, Haverfordwest, and Clement, of Coedmor, Newport Road, Crymych, Pembrokeshire each deny a single charge of fraud by making dishonest claims for payment and time off in lieu for time worked.

The trial continues.