BREAKING NEWS: Police officer dismissed for stealing sex lube
A NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Police officer has been dismissed from the force having been found guilty of gross misconduct.
Neil Bull, 37, of Wollaston, had previously been arrested by officers for shoplifting and appeared at Northampton Crown Court earlier this month.
On January 5, he was convicted after being filmed stealing drinks, bodybuilding supplements and Durex sex gel from Boots in Market Square, Northampton on September 20, November 5 and December 4, 2010.
The judge ordered him to pay a fine of £500 for each offence and £750 costs.
Following the conviction Neil Bull was fast tracked to a Special Case Hearing today.
Mr Bull attended and was found guilty of behaviour that failed to meet the standards of behaviour expected of a police officer and was dismissed from the force, effective immediately.
Detective Superintendant Pete Windridge, Head of Professional Standards, said: “We expect the highest standards of our officers, and entrust them to uphold the principles of law.
“Occasionally there are rare cases where the actions of officers fall below the standards we expect.
“This case demonstrates that the force will thoroughly investigate and take robust action against anyone who commits a criminal offence in an open and transparent manner, as we have done in this case.
“In a case like this, we believe it is crucial that we take swift action and we hope that this will remind the public that the vast majority of officers behave with integrity, that they can have confidence in the work we do and the commitment we have to the highest standards.”
During the court case, Andrew Copeland, prosecuting, said Bull was already suspected of stealing bottles of drink and canisters of Maxi-Muscle body building supplement in September and November 2010, when he was spotted leaving the store on December 4, 2010.
Security officer Matthew Pharoah recognised him as the shoplifter previously captured on the store’s CCTV. He alerted police and town centre CCTV operators for assistance before approaching him. But Bull ran off and when eventually arrested, he had a packet of stolen Durex Play O lube gel in his pocket.
However, he told a jury he had stolen nothing on the first two occasions and had left Boots with the sex lube because he was embarrassed about being with his partner’s two children at the time and intended to return to the shop later to pay for it.
But the jury unanimously convicted of three theft offences after just an hour’s deliberation.
Timothy Bowden, mitigating, asked Judge Richard Bray to pass a conditional discharge. He added: “The more serious consequences for him as a result of these convictions are very grave indeed. He will be required to resign from the force almost immediately thereby losing his immediate employment but also the opportunity of a reference notwithstanding his years of service.”
Judge Richard Bray, who fined Bull £1,500 with £750 costs, said: “A conditional discharge is certainly not appropriate. I have to follow the guidelines whatever the public thinks about police officers involved in theft. You cannot have police officers involved in theft and then telling a pack of lies in a court.”
Sentencing, he added: “I’m not going to lecture you. You know what’s happened here and it’s sad to see. Your employers will no doubt take an immediate view as to what happens next and I have borne that in mind.”
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Reverend
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 03:25 PMSadly, that's the double standards required of those who hold public office. Police officers private lives are restricted in many ways by the Crown, and all accept this willingly in order to serve the communities they live amongst. One bad apple doesn't make the whole bunch rotten unless left alone. Poor Police management is often the cause of poor Police Officers.
ThatsMyOpinionOfCourse
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12:06 PMPolice breaking the law - well yes, sorry but what can you expect but to lose your job - but poor guy, photo in paper and nature of what it was plastered all over the papers he must be soooo embarassed!
jenny jane
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 10:18 AMGlad they saw 'sense', as stated how many others are breaking the law and keeping their jobs.. .was it because of what he stole..did it go into the evidence box to be taken ???
seedee
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 08:01 PMDo you think he needed the product to got to the A43 lay-by?
TeddyMcnabb
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 07:15 PMClaretpaul, i was joking, but im not on this, will windy, name the police officer who sent racist and sexist texts, and explain why he or she is still an officer and how could he or she possibly charge someone else with these offences? Lady muck agreed, maybe windy could tell us how many dismissed officers got to keep their pensions.....and any re-employed as civillians?
ClaretPaul
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 06:38 PMThat's a few slip ups Teddy. No wonder few people have any respect for our police force. Was it worth it? No, he got what he deserved!
lady muck
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 05:46 PMHis dismissal should have been backdated to the date of the offence...he has presumably had the benefit of 13 months salary.....why does it take so long for criminals to come to trial ?
TeddyMcnabb
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 04:41 PMThe guy has slipped up, no need to rub it in further!
Duncan Roomyhatchback Duncan
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 04:31 PMHe'd have got off lighter if he was a TV chef!
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