A police officer accused of making improper computer checks on

a man once suspected of involvement in the £53million

Securitas robbery has revealed she got more involved with him when

he met an ex-Page 3 model.

Mother-of-two Eileen Arthurs told a court she became closer
with him in 2008 after he introduced
her to Jamelah Asmar.

The 52-year-old PC (picture by Mike Gunnill) was based at Bluewater shopping centre and North Kent police station, in Northfleet, when she was alleged to
have accessed database records for “purely personal and not policing” reasons.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard she lied to
colleagues and made false entries in her notebooks while making one
of the Police National Computer checks.

Arthurs, of Wansunt Road, Bexley, denies five charges of
misconduct in a public office dating back to 2004 - claiming she
only ever used the computer system for police business.

The court heard from Arthurs that she got more involved with the man in 2008 when he met ex-Page 3 girl Jamelah Asmar.

"I first met her when he introduced her to me down our local
gym," she said. "He began phoning a lot and talking about this
person. I think he was smitten with her.

"I had seen her at the gym and remarked how beautiful she was. I
got more involved in their domestic relationship. I spoke to both
of them on a regular basis as time went on.

"It lasted until 2011. During that period I was like an adviser,
giving advice about their relationship. It was all about him and
Jamelah Asmar.

"It was mostly a lot of phone conversations. It would be in
passing as I was coming out of the road or in the gym. It would be
right to describe them as friends."

Andrew Baughan, defending, asked: "Did you have any concerns

about your relationship with him?"

Arthurs replied: "No, it was purely a relationship to do with

his domestic situation. I never discussed my work."

The relationship continued.

PC Eileen Arthurs was
partly based at North Kent police station

Asked about not ticking a box about associating with known

criminals on a vetting form, she said: "Kent Police were well aware

I was associating with him. They knew he had bought my

house.

"I could have ticked the box, but I didn't see the importance of
it as I had highlighted it. I was happy they were aware I was
associating with him."

It is alleged Arthurs misused Kent Police's computer system

to view information relating to him and his former partner.

She is also accused of completing and submitting a vetting

form that failed to disclose her association with him.

Arthurs said she 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.

Kent Police officer
Eileen Arthurs is on trial at Maidstone Crown Court

Arthurs said he viewed the house several times while she

and her husband tried to reach a settlement.

"I had more contact with him" she said. "We had exchanged

numbers. He used to come to the house. I had a big gym in the

house. We got on very well. He was very nice.

"He didn't know what my occupation was. I understood his
occupation to be a builder. I met his partner and four children.
They loved the house so much they popped round and were more than
welcome."

He 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.

The trial continues.