A POLICE constable who stole £65 from a dead man's wallet has been jailed for 15 months for trying to cover up the theft.
Paul Wallace, 47, a PC with Humberside Police, nicked the money while acting as family liaison officer to the family of Paul Rutter, who died suddenly in June 2015.
He later tried to cover up the theft by planting £65 in the police property store, amending his pocket notebook and duping another cop to find the money after a complaint was made by Mr Rutter's partner.
Wallace, from Willowdale, Hull, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing and was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court.
Jonathan Sandiford, prosecuting, told the court Wallace attended the sudden accidental death of Mr Rutter in Leconfield, East Yorkshire, in June 2015 and was assigned as family liaison officer.
He helped other officers searched the house and took possession of a number of items, including Mr Rutter's brown wallet, containing £65, which was later logged and placed in the property store at Clough Road police station in an evidence bag.
Wallace then returned Mr Rutter's wallet to his partner who, according to the court, thought it was "strange there was no cash inside as Mr Rutter had been in the habit of always having cash in his wallet".
As a result she complained to the police.
STOLE CASH FROM DEAD MAN
The next month, Wallace was told by email a complaint had been made and withdrew £50 from a cash machine near the police station within half an hour of reading the message.
He then placed the cash into an evidence bag, marked with the same exhibit number as the wallet, and put the bag into the property store before calling another officer to help him search for the missing money, which was found among other evidence bags and stationery.
Wallace amended his police pocket notebook by adding notes about the money being separated from the wallet.
Mr Sandiford said Wallace's actions had affected Mr Rutter's partner by making her relive the events surrounding his death and had shattered her faith and trust in the police and other people.
The court heard Wallace had no previous convictions but had received a final written warning in 2010 for breaching police conduct regulations by forging the signature of a witness on a statement.
Judge John Thackray QC told Wallace: "A prison sentence is nearly always required to mark the affront to our justice system when a person has committed the offence of perverting the course of justice. When committed by a police officer, the offence is particularly serious.
"In this case, there was an element of persistence and obvious planning."
He continued: "I am urged to consider here suspending the inevitable custodial sentence. I accept your risk of reoffending could be managed within the community, I accept you could be rehabilitated in the community, I accept an immediate custodial sentence will have a catastrophic effect on you and your family.
"But I am afraid, Mr Wallace, only appropriate punishment can be achieved with an immediate custodial sentence."
Wallace, wearing glasses, a dark grey shirt and black trousers, showed no emotion as he was sentenced and led from the dock in handcuffs.
Detective Superintendent Matt Baldwin, head of professional standards at Humberside Police, said: “Honesty and integrity are crucial qualities and vital elements to policing and in serving the public.
“While Wallace has admitted his guilt, his deceptive actions have gravely failed to uphold and maintain the high standards both we, and more importantly, the public expect."
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