A 34-year-old Port Elizabeth police member, Alicia Beeming, was emotional on Wednesday when she gave evidence in mitigation of sentence in her trial.
Beeming was earlier convicted on a charge of defeating the ends of justice for concealing the whereabouts of a gang suspect, Hans Jordaan, who turned out to be her boyfriend.
In her evidence, Beeming pleaded with the court for leniency and asked that it takes into account that she is a single mother of three children.
The state called for direct imprisonment of between three to five years.
Earlier this month her sentencing proceedings were halted when her attorney, Hennie Bence announced that he would no longer represent her.
He told the court that he came to the decision as a result of her apparent failure to follow his instructions and missing consultation sessions, which resulted in the irretrievable breakdown of their relationship.
Beeming will be sentenced on the 14th of March and her bail of R500 was extended.