RUC man jailed for fraud

Robinson was an inspector in the RUC

A senior police officer who led an investigation into allegations that an RUC colleague was corrupt has said the force will not tolerate criminal activity.

Detective Chief Superintendent Brian McVicar was speaking after inspector Derek Robinson was jailed for two years, following the RUC's biggest internal investigation into corruption.

Robinson, 45, pleaded guilty to 17 charges including fraud, corruption and interfering with the judicial system.

Derek Robinson: Jailed for two years

The officer, based at a station in Omagh, County Tyrone, was arrested following a 15-month uncover investigation, between October 1995 and February 1997.

Speaking after the court case on Friday, Superintendent McVicar said: "There is the possibility that there are police officers out there who are involved in criminal activity.

"I would hope that this case would send a very clear message to all officers that the RUC will not tolerate this type of criminal behaviour within its ranks."

Robinson admitted corruption, illegally tapping into an RUC computer, and insurance scams which netted him £12,000.

You have pleaded guilty to a proverbial catalogue of offences which would make even a hardened criminal blush

Mr Justice McLaughlin

He also admitted obtaining property by deception, handing a forged letter to a magistrate, failing to prosecute a case properly and advising his partner - an RUC constable - to tell lies during a police investigation.

Omagh Crown Court sitting in Belfast heard on that Robinson, described by his defence QC Charles Adair as a "broken man", used his position as a prosecuting inspector to get his friends lighter magistrate court sentences.

Mr Justice McLaughlin said: "You have pleaded guilty to a proverbial catalogue of offences which would make even a hardened criminal blush.

"But in the case of a police officer, let alone one of high rank, they constitute infamous conduct on your part."

He added that in the early years Robinson, described as a "high-flyer" who rapidly rose through the ranks to become an inspector within 10 years, had been above reproach.

But he said that by the early 1990s, Robinson had "lost his way".

He said from 1992 to 1997, Robinson had allowed his "blatant professional misconduct and dishonesty, motivated by greed, to become an integral part" of his life.

'Influence'

The court also heard Robinson's 33-year-old girlfriend, Jocelyn Louise Serplus, wrote him a bogus letter for presentation to a magistrate four years ago, for one of his friends in a driving case.

Mr Justice McLaughlin said that, but for Robinson's influence over her, she would never have helped in perverting the course of public justice to which she pleaded guilty.

Serplus, whose address was also given as Omagh RUC Station, was freed and ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service.

The court also heard that Martin Carnes, 34, c/o Melmount Road in Strabane, County Tyrone, earned £2000 from one of Robinson's insurance scams.

It was said the car dealer also helped to interfere with the mileage on a car.

Carnes was given a six month suspended sentence after the judge ruled he was not "the prime mover" in either offence.