PC who stole from pensioner jailed

A debt-ridden police officer, who betrayed the trust of an 80-year-old disabled pensioner he befriended while on duty and stole her pounds 7,800 life savings, was jailed for 18 months yesterday.

PC Trevor Standing, 36, who wept as the judge branded him a "mean, opportunist thief", stumbled on Kathleen Lyons' hoard of cash while trying to repair her television.

PC Standing, a father of three, described as "exemplary" after an 18- year career spanning both the Army and police force, hid most of the cash in the loft at his home, but used pounds 500 to pay off bills. He also used the cash to buy a second-hand television for Mrs Lyons and pretended it was a gift from him.

Passing sentence Southwark Crown Court in south London, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC, told PC Standing, of Sundale Avenue, South Croydon, that he had committed a "grave breach of trust".