Inspector who stole £160,000 jailed

A senior detective who stole £160,000 of confiscated money has been jailed for four years.

Detective Inspector Christopher Spackman, 47, bought his friend Joanne Fletcher, 32, designer clothes, a luxury holiday and paid a deposit towards an £18,000 car.

The pair were not involved in a sexual relationship, but Spackman wanted to give Fletcher, who had previous criminal convictions, a second chance in life, the Old Bailey court heard.

The married officer, of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, used bogus paperwork to trick Hertfordshire Constabulary accountants into writing a £160,000 cheque.

The account that I have heard... is really a disgraceful catalogue of crime and lies undertaken with cunning Judge Brian Barker QC

He decided to siphon off the money seized from suspected criminals at an M25 service station.

But Spackman, who was serving with the regional force, was under surveillance the whole time by anti-corruption officers.

Spackman had enlisted Fletcher and convicted burglar Trevor Powell, 46, of Watford, to help him.

Sentencing Spackman, Judge Brian Barker QC said: "The account that I have heard stretching as it does over nearly two years is really a disgraceful catalogue of crime and lies undertaken with cunning."

The judge gave Spackman credit for his 25-year career in the force.

"All that, you disregarded and you threw away when you decided to descend to the level of a law breaker.

"There can be no compromise upon the standing and integrity the public require of a serving police officer."

Fletcher had to be held up by a dock officer as she was jailed for 12 months. Powell was jailed for 15 months.

Spackman and Powell admitted conspiracy to steal between 1 May and 6 September, 2002.

Deplorable actions

Spackman also admitted theft and misconduct in office.

Fletcher, of Morgan Gardens, Aldenham, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft.

Hertfordshire Assistant Chief Constable Rob Beckley said Spackman's actions had been deplorable.

"He received a sentence that reflects his criminally dishonest behaviour and his betrayal of the trust of the public and of his colleagues.

"The officers and staff in Hertfordshire Constabulary are disappointed and angry and there is universal condemnation of his actions.'