Police officer pleads guilty to shoplifting

Christopher Spence was filmed on CCTV at the Bideford branch of Lidl putting food and drink into a rucksack

A police officer has pleaded guilty to shoplifting from a budget supermarket while he was off duty.

Christopher Spence, 43, was filmed in February on CCTV at the Clovelly Road branch of Lidl in Bideford, Devon, putting food and drink into a rucksack, before he paid for one item at the store's self checkout and left.

Staff at the shop recognised him because he had previously attended the store in his role as a uniformed police officer.

Judge David Evans said: "This was a particularly serious offence because of the employment you held at the time."

Spence, from Abbotsham, near Bideford, had previously claimed in a police interview that he had left the stolen items in a basket at the store when he realised he did not have the right bank card with him.

However, he changed his plea after police were able to demonstrate his story was untrue after studying CCTV footage.

Miss Feleena Grosvenor, the prosecutor, said Spence had a relationship with staff at the store who knew him through his work as a police officer.

He had told them he was part of a team which was cracking down on shoplifting, she said.

She said: "On the day of this theft he was due back in the store in relation to an assault on staff, so his relationship with them was very much entwined."

Spence was released on bail until a sentencing hearing on 24 September at Exeter Crown Court.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police has confirmed that Spence remains suspended.