Police Officer Steals Cheques From Dead Man, Pays Himself Thousands

A police officer stole blank cheques from a dead man he discovered at a property and paid himself thousands.

The officer, Pc Robert Ward, of the Metropolitan Police in the UK, stole £4,000 and another £9,625 in cash from people taken into custody at Edmonton police station, the force said.

The 36-year-old officer based in Enfield, north London, was jailed for two years at Southwark Crown Court on Friday after admitting a host of fraud and theft charges.

Ward’s force said he was called to an address over concerns for the welfare of the occupant in January last year before finding the man dead.

The officer stole two blank cheques and made them out to himself for £4,000 each but one bounced, police said.

Ward, of Waltham Abbey, north-east London, was also ordered to pay £4,000 compensation to the estate of Peter Jones and a further £2,000 to the Met Police, a court official said.

Police also said he took 76 days of compassionate, carers and emergency leave on the basis his child was critically ill – but this claim emerged to be false.

Commander Catherine Roper said: “Cases like this, although extremely rare, undermine public trust and confidence in policing.”

Following the investigation by the Directorate of Professional Standards, Ward now faces a police misconduct hearing.

Evening Standard, UK