Policeman jailed for 'brazen' theft

A policeman who stole a camcorder during a raid on a house filled with illegal immigrants has been jailed for six months.

Pc Reginald Lilley, 45, even offered the Sony machine to three other officers before taking it himself from the house in Wyberton, Lincolnshire.

The camcorder was later found hidden at the Lincolnshire policeman's home, but when questioned he claimed he had taken it for someone else.

William Harbage, prosecuting, told a jury that Lilley carried out the thefts "openly and brazenly".

He was probably banking on the illegal immigrants being too scared to complain and his colleagues keeping quiet, Mr Harbage said.

Illegal immigrants

Another officer had found the camera and was suspicious about how an illegal immigrant could afford such an expensive luxury item.

"But Pc Lillley took it from him and said words to the effect of 'Which one of you is having it?'. It was a totally inappropriate comment for an officer to make," Mr Harbage added.

Lilley, of Swineshead, Lincolnshire, insisted he always intended to give the camcorder back.

He was convicted of theft by a Leicester Crown Court jury at an earlier trial.

Passing sentence at Nottingham Crown Court, the judge told Lilley: " This was a mean offence committed against a vulnerable person who you believed would be unable to make a complaint.

The judge also ordered Lilley to pay £450 compensation to the owner of the camera, who has since been deported to Lithuania.

The incident happened after PC Lilley stopped a car and arrested the two occupants on suspicion of being illegal immigrants.