Anti-terror officer jailed for misuse of credit card

A Scotland Yard anti-terrorism officer has been jailed for 10 months after he admitted using his corporate credit card to fund a £73,000 spree.

Detective Sergeant Richard de Cadenet, 39, used his American Express card, issued to all anti-terror officers in the Metropolitan Police for non-personal expenses, to pay for two holidays to Mexico and a trip to Thailand with his mistress. He also bought clothes and electrical goods and withdrew £18,000 from cash machines in little more than a year. He even used it to pay for a box at a Premiership football ground.

Southwark Crown Court heard that of 415 transactions on the card, 28 were legitimate. Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC sentenced de Cadenet to 10 months in prison for a "most serious breach of trust". He had been arrested in October 2007 and charged with misconduct in a public office in April 2008, at which point he resigned from the police. He pleaded guilty in June.

De Cadenet was one of three Met officers arrested for alleged card misuse. Former officer John Gallagher, 52, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and will be sentenced on 21 November. Detective Constable Matt Washington, 36, pleaded not guilty to the same offence and will be tried in December.