A FORMER South Yorkshire Police press officer was praised by journalists’ union the NUJ yesterday after she claimed that the force had ordered her to “spin” testimony at the Hillsborough inquests.

Hayley Court accused her ex-employer of “immoral spin” and “bullying” after she was allegedly told to promote testimony which smeared victims as being to blame for the 1989 disaster.

Ms Court had intended to write objective daily reports but was instead told to support the force’s own discredited version of events.

She felt that her instructions on how to guide the media were unethical.

Ms Court said she was told: “Your job is to round up the media at the end of the day and tell them: ‘This is the line’.”

The former journalist was later signed off sick with depression.

“Hayley Court highlighted a stark example of unacceptable pressure being put on communications staff by employers facing difficult media coverage,” said National Union of Journalists general secretary Michelle Stanistreet

“Her approach would have served South Yorkshire Police well, but she was put under extreme pressure, which she described as bullying, by senior officials to be a spin doctor for the force’s ill-conceived position, which included blaming fans for the tragic loss of life at that football game.”

South Yorkshire Police said it was aware of Ms Court’s concerns and would welcome the chance to talk them through.

The force is also facing calls for its dissolution over its conduct during the 1984-5 miners’ strike.