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Officer jailed for car-sale fraud
A SOUTH Yorkshire Police dog handler conned a woman out of £5,800 when he sold her a crash-damaged car - then fabricated evidence when he was taken to court. Neil Stead, aged 37, has been jailed for four months after admitting fraud and perverting the course of justice.
Sheffield Crown Court heard he bought the damaged Honda Jazz from a wrecker’s yard and sold it two months later claiming it was new, pocketing a 2,250 profit.
Buyer Louise Callandine believed him because he was a police officer - who even wore his uniform as he showed her and her father the car.
She later discovered the vehicle had been damaged in a crash and took him to Doncaster County Court to recover her cash.
Documents subsequently filed by Stead to support his case included a false witness statement supposedly made by his uncle.
Stead forged the signature on the document, created on a South Yorkshire Police computer, to back up his claims.
Jailing him, Judge Peter Jones said: “Police officers are given considerable power and privilege and the public need to be able to trust police officers and rely on them. They must display a high standard of behaviour and probity in all aspects of their lives.”
Laura Pitman, prosecuting, said Stead visited a South Yorkshire salvage yard in March last year and bought the car for 5,800. He spent money on repairs, then advertised it in Auto Trader as new.
When Ms Callandine and her father viewed the car Stead greeted them in his uniform.
Miss Pitman said: “The defendant explained he was a police dog handler.
“They looked at the car and her father asked whether it had been involved in any accidents. The defendant responded it had not, and was new. He said he was selling it on behalf of his uncle who was living in Spain.
“No further checks were made as they believed him and didn’t take the matter any further.”
But mechanics later discovered it had been in an accident and the estimated bill for repairs was 3,500.
Stead, of The Paddocks, Worksop, refused to refund Ms Callandine’s money stating the car had been “sold as seen”. So Miss Callandine initiated county court proceedings.
Chloe Fairley, defending, said Stead had an exemplary 17-year career with South Yorkshire Police, but had since resigned. She said three years ago her client "had everything" - married with children and a job he loved. But things went downhill after a bitter divorce.
Judge Jones said he could not accept Stead's offences were a momentary lapse or mistake because he had the chance to give Ms Callandine her money back.
“You told a series of lies, you have abused the trust of others,” he said.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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