Posted by Avon and Somerset police have said a former officer’s theft from a store at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, was “beyond belief” and “unacceptable for a anyone in a position of public trust”.
Peter Cokell, 34, was given a suspended jail sentence yesterday after being convicted on shoplifting while on duty in uniform in April.
Cokell – who resigned from the force in June – received a 12 week jail term, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to do 70 hours unpaid work in the community, contribute £400 towards the costs of the case, and pay £74.98 compensation.
The former officer, from Wick, South Gloucestershire, stole two computer games from the HMV store at The Mall in Cribbs Causeway, and was told by Judge David Parsons at Bristol Magistrates Court that he had committed a “gross breach of trust”.
Assistant Chief Constable Lawrie Lewis, from Avon and Somerset police, said he was happy with the sentence. “The comments from the judge indicate how seriously he viewed this case. We are satisfied to see that he was awarded a custodial sentence, albeit a suspended one.
“Mr Cokell’s actions were unacceptable for anyone in a position of public trust and beyond belief for someone entrusted to be a police officer.
“These were the actions of a single person which was in no way representative of the many trusted and honourable staff we have who, on a daily basis, demonstrate high standards of professional behaviour.
“We are committed to providing a policing service which local people have confidence in.”
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