A former Met officer has been jailed for 10 months for stealing £1,500 from a secure at an east London police station to pay a bank card debt.
Bradley Francis, 35, resigned as a PC after his theft from the secure at Stoke Newington police station was found.
Judge Martin Griffith, sentencing at London’s Southwark Crown Court, informed him that no officer ought to “consider themselves above the law”.
Francis had misplaced his profession, marriage and residential for a “ridiculous” theft at a time when his household would have stepped in to assist him pay a bank card debt.
“The public should have faith that the police will apply the regulation to themselves and never take into account themselves above the regulation.
“The public should have absolute faith and trust in their police officers and that is quite right, I’m afraid you have let that down.”
He added: “It is a great shame you threw away the career you loved, your good character, your marriage and all that because you chose a ridiculous way out (of) your financial affairs.”
Francis, of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, had pleaded responsible to theft by worker after stealing roughly £1,500 on 12 April whereas he was a serving officer.
The money was public cash which was a part of an ongoing intent-to-supply investigation.
Within half-hour of the theft Francis had paid off a £1,500 bank card invoice.
The decide informed Francis that his “pride” had stopped him from asking for assist from his father.
The decide mentioned: “If only you hadn’t had a matter of pride, that you were going to ask them (your family), and instead of which you were going to steal from a police safe where you found £1,500 – you wouldn’t be standing here.”
Francis, who has no earlier convictions, was ordered to pay £1,500 compensation.
Source: information.sky.com”