PC Christopher Spence, 44, placed a fig of items successful his rucksack - but lone paid for 1 happening earlier leaving the store.

10:19, Thu, Nov 28, 2024 | UPDATED: 10:30, Thu, Nov 28, 2024

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The constabulary serviceman was caught stealing stealing nuts, food and treats from a Lidl supermarket (Image: SWNS)

CCTV shows a constabulary serviceman caught stealing stealing nuts, food and treats from a Lidl supermarket.

PC Christopher Spence, 44, placed a fig of items successful his rucksack - but lone paid for 1 happening earlier leaving the store.

He appeared earlier Exeter Crown Court wherever helium had antecedently pleaded blameworthy to a complaint of theft pursuing an incidental astatine Lidl, successful Bideford, connected February 12.

He was sentenced connected Tuesday to an 18-month assemblage order.

Spence - who was disconnected work astatine the clip of the offence - is present taxable to misconduct proceedings wrong the force.

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He was sentenced connected Tuesday to an 18-month assemblage bid (Image: SWNS)

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Spence has been suspended from work since his apprehension (Image: SWNS)

He has been suspended from work since his arrest.

He was fixed an 18-month assemblage order, told to bash 150 hours unpaid work, wage £300 towards prosecution costs wrong 12 months, a unfortunate surcharge and £30 compensation to the store.

Following sentencing, Superintendent Toby Davies, Commander successful North and West Devon, said:

"We are profoundly disappointed by the actions of Chris Spence, peculiarly fixed his neighbourhood relation wrong the community.

"First and foremost, I privation to guarantee our assemblage that the enactment of 1 idiosyncratic does not bespeak the values oregon integrity of our section officers."

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Spence volition transportation retired 150 hours unpaid enactment (Image: SWNS)

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CCTV caught the constabulary serviceman reddish handed (Image: SWNS)

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"We are committed to maintaining the highest levels of spot and assurance successful the assemblage we serve, and I would similar to guarantee the nationalist that specified incidents are rare."

"This behaviour undermines each those officers who behave to the highest standards time in, time out, keeping our country safe."

"As we determination forwards, we volition proceed to beryllium unfastened and transparent, and clasp ourselves accountable, and we volition enactment hard to guarantee that the actions of 1 idiosyncratic does not undermine the assurance and spot we person worked truthful hard to build."