An officer who stole equipment from police stations to sell on eBay will keep most of his pension.

Ex-Kent police constable Paul Withrington, who was sent to prison for a year for taking gear worth almost £16,000 will receive 70% of his pension when he retires.

The disgraced officer took equipment such as torches, CDs and combat trousers for over two years, making £5,761 on the taxpayers' expense.

Once officers noticed items were disappearing from the station in Medway, the force found their equipment being sold by user named 'Paul1981With' on eBay.

Withrington, of The Farrows in Maidstone, had served with Kent Police for 11 years before his dismissal on June 3, 2016.

The 37-year-old was married with a child and worked as a car salesman at the time of his sentencing at Canterbury crown court on December 1, 2016.

The decision to forfeit 30% of his pension was made by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) following approval from the Home Secretary.

Chief executive of Kent OPCC, Adrian Harper wrote: "On reviewing the case in its entirety, the necessary case law, and appropriate cases to bench mark his decision making, the Commissioner decided that the level of forefeiture should be set at 30% out of a maximum of two-thirds.

"I am satisfied that this was both a lawful and transparent process with independent rigour applied to the process."