A detective sergeant stole tens of thousands of pounds from passengers travelling from Heathrow Aiport.
Michael Harrington, 46, pocketed between £75,000 and £83,000 by targeting people who were taking large sums of cash in and out of the UK.
The Metropolitan police, who worked with the Criminal Finance Team, seized the money saying he had to investigate why such sums were being carried and whether or not the cash had been obtained by criminal means.
But he then failed to give the money back when it was found to be lawfully withdrawn, creating ‘significant financial hardship’ for his victims.
At least two victims were attending weddings abroad when Harrison stole from them.
And one victim was denied an interpreter while having their legitimate cash confiscated.
Harrington lied about giving people their money back or recorded the amounts he seized as less than they actually were and then pocketed the difference.
In five years, he stole from 16 people and was only caught when victims started to contact police about getting their money back.
He was arrested in July 2015 and suspended from duty.
Harrington, from Staines, Surrey, admitted 16 charges of theft and was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Southwark Crown Court today.
Riaz Jakhura, from the CPS London’s Complex Casework unit, said: “Harrington took advantage of a number of passengers including foreign nationals making their way through Heathrow airport.
“He abused his position as a financial investigator for the police, contributing to significant stress and financial hardship for some of his victims.
“He called genuine victims into the police station to discuss fabricated plans about getting their money back – even telling one that he would have to wait up to three years.
“When under pressure he also paid money back to a victim from his own bank account, and attempted to make the transfer look like it came from the official Metropolitan Police Service bank account.
“A number of empty evidence bags used to seize money from passengers passing through Heathrow airport were also found at his home address.
“The overwhelming evidence against Harrington meant that he had no choice but to admit his crimes.”
Detective Sergeant Stuart Hart, from the DPS, added: “DS Harrington clearly took advantage of his position to steal a large quantity of cash that had been seized at Heathrow.
“He remains suspended and now criminal proceedings have concluded, misconduct proceedings will take place,” the detective said.
(London Mirror)
