by Keith Hunt

A police officer posed as a trading standards inspector at a boot fair so that he could steal a stall holder's goods, a court heard.

David Evans also behaved dishonestly while in the Kent force and after being kicked out stole more than £5,000 from his new employer.

Now, the 25-year-old, of Ballens Road, Chatham, has been jailed for 14 months.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Evans committed the offences when addicted to gambling, having run up a £45,000 debt.

Bridget Todd, prosecuting said Evans, who joined the police when he was aged 20, and another man went to the boot fair in Leysdown on April 11 last year and claimed to be from Trading Standards.

Using his warrant card, they "seized" bags, shoes, boots, cosmetics and purses worth about £600 claiming they were counterfeit, put them in a car and drove off.

A police sergeant went to Evans's home and confronted him. He replied: "I will be honest with you, I have sold the stuff but still have some of the items."

Miss Todd said Evans was released on bail and he left the police.

He then obtained a job as a sales director with All Park Ltd, based on May Avenue industrial estate in Gravesend .

The firm's boss had met him while a police officer and told him if he left the force he would be interested in employing him.

But in May Evans cashed two company cheques for a total amount of £5,200 at a money shop.

The prosecutor said Evans was asked to explain what was going on but he flew out on a short holiday to Bangkok in Thailand.

He was arrested on his return. He claimed he took the money because he believed he was owed £10-15,000 in commission.

Miss Todd said Evans was cautioned while a police officer for stealing £200 from a bag that was handed in and then asked to resign.

Neil Guest, defending, said the cash was taken during an honesty test by the police, but the prosecutor said that was extremely unlikely.

Judge Martin Joy told Evans, who admitted theft and two fraud charges, there was a substantial breach of trust.

"I am satisfied the offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence is justified," he said.