A MOTHER-of-two was reduced to tears by a policeman who told her she didn't love her children, a court was told.

Julie Jeffries, 32, claimed the officer made the comments after she let her daughters, aged 10 and two, sit in the front seat of her car without seat belts.

But PC Paul Travis, speaking after the case, refuted her claim and said he always carried out his duties in a professional manner.

Jeffries told Blackburn magistrates that she was stopped by PC Travis moments after her youngest, Kacey, had had an 'accident' and she was trying to get her children back into their seats.

She pleaded guilty to failing to wear a seat belt, driving with a child under the age of 14 years in a front seat without a seat belt and using a vehicle in a way that caused danger of injury on March 15 this year.

She was fined £100 with £35 costs. Tom Snape, prosecuting, said PC Travis stopped Jeffries driving in Brownlow Street, Clitheroe, around the corner from her house in Hayhurst Street.

He said there was an unoccupied child seat in the rear of the car and that when stopped Jeffries had told him: "I know it's dangerous."

In a letter read out to court the catering assistant said she explained to the officer that everyone had been wearing seat belts when they set out.

But Kacey had wet her child seat and climbed out of her restraints and into the front.

She said her elder daughter Lois had undone her seat belt to help get Kacey on to a booster seat that was also in the back of the car and Jeffries had undone her belt to help.

She added: "I couldn't find a safe place to park and all this was explained to PC Travis, but he seemed not to be listening.

"He also accused me of not loving my children, which deeply upset me."

Speaking after the case, she said: "I love my children very dearly and would never do anything to put them at risk.

"I accept I committed the offence, but I did not deserve to be spoken to that way. I was in tears afterwards and my eldest, Lois, heard what he said and was very upset."

After the case, PC Travis said: "Parents have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the children that they carry in vehicles, especially the younger ones and Mrs Jeffries was given appropriate advice in relation to this matter.

"I would like to say that I always carry out my duties in a professional manner and refute the comment I was alleged to have said about her not loving her children."

A police spokesman said: "Officers often offer advice to people and it is unfortunate that in this case it may have been misinterpreted."