A dishonest police officer who made improper computer checks on a convicted criminal who once suspected of involvement in the £53 million Securitas robbery has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Eileen Arthurs (pictured right, by Mike Gunnill), of Wansunt Road, Bexley, denied five charges of misconduct in a public office dating back several years but was convicted today by a jury.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 52-year-old divorcee lied to colleagues and made false entries in her notebooks while carrying out a Police National Computer checks.

She misused Kent Police’s computer system to view information relating to Lee May, his former partner Michelle Stevenson and another convicted criminal Ian Tucker.

Arthurs, who claimed she only ever used the computer system for police business, also completed and submitted a vetting form which failed to disclose her association with Mr May.

She was based at Bluewater shopping centre and North Kent police station in Northfleet when she accessed database records for “purely personal and not policing” reasons.

The mother-of-two joined Kent Police in June 2002, about a year after she separated from her demolition contractor husband.

They had knocked down their home in Wansunt Road and built a bigger house with five bedrooms and a gym.

After they parted in 2001, her husband left and the house was put on the market for £820,000.

"it is clear that misconduct by police officers such as committed by you seriously undermine the trust in the polices service which the public are entitled to" – judge martin joy

Arthurs told how Lee May viewed the house several times while she and her husband tried to reach a settlement and then had more contact with him. She claimed he did not at first know her occupation.

Mr May, 49, bought the house in July 2004 for £760,000. Her share of the amount was £520,000. After renting in Dartford for six months she bought a smaller house in Wansunt Road.

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Joy told Arthurs he was satisfied the information she obtained was to give to Mr May.

“You told lies to other officers, including superiors, perhaps to cover your tracks for your dishonest and criminal behaviour,” he said.

“This was an extended course of misconduct carried out over many years. The misuse of the computer relates to major criminals and not mundane matters.

“It is clear that misconduct by police officers such as committed by you seriously undermine the trust in the polices service which the public are entitled to.”