Police career ruined over £6 of groceries

Jul 26 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A DISGRACED ex-Northumbria Police officer yesterday told how his 21-year career was ruined by shoplifting – for just £6.87 of groceries.

Adrian Ingram spoke of his distress at the petty offence that cost him 21 years of service with the force.

Yesterday at Durham Crown Court, the 40-year-old admitted shoplifting from a Spar store.

And speaking to The Journal after the hearing, Ingram said it was a moment of madness committed when he was under stress at home.

He said: “My life is in ruins after this stupid offence.

“For the sake of stealing goods worth £6, I have lost my pension, which was worth thousands.

“I was suffering from a nervous breakdown at the time. I wasn’t acting rationally.

“My son was born with cerebral palsy and I had split up from my partner. I simply had a breakdown.

“But unlike most people whose good name and pride may be tarnished if they end up in court for an offence of shoplifting – but who can carry on with their lives – mine is in ruins.

“I have lost my job, my pension, my career.

“I served the community for 21 years as a police officer and now I am left with nothing because of a stupid act when I was unwell.”

Ingram resigned from Northumbria Police last week, just days before admitting the theft of food and drink from his local Spar store in Duke Street, Darlington.

He was immediately suspended on full pay by the force following his arrest on July 29 last year.

The court was told he was at York Crown Court last week, where he admitted a similar offence committed in February. Following that conviction he resigned from the force. His sentencing was adjourned for four weeks until the week beginning August 18, at Durham Crown Court, when he will be sentenced on both the thefts from Darlington and York. Ingram, of British School Yard, Darlington, had denied the charge at earlier hearings, but admitted the offence before a judge at Durham Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Guy Whitburn issued Ingram with a “formal warning” that another judge could consider jailing him for the theft, although he added that he considered it “highly unlikely”.

He told Ingram that he thought a community order was more likely, after studying psychiatric reports.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police confirmed yesterday: “Ingram resigned from the force last week.”