A former police officer in South Yorkshire has been jailed for blackmailing a suspect to repay playing money owed.
Marie Thompson, 29, has been jailed for 3 years and 4 months after an investigation by South Yorkshire Police’s Skilled Requirements Division (PSD), as detailed in a report from the police force. The previous police constable was discovered guilt of blackmailing a suspect in one in every of her personal instances.
In 2023, Thompson, who was working in Doncaster, anonymously reached out to a suspect she was investigating. She used a faux e mail account to try to pressure a £3,500 ($4,600) ransom from the suspect to maintain the allegations towards them quiet.
The suspect took the blackmail to the police, with the case then allotted to Thompson because it was considered linked to her ongoing investigation. Thompson recorded false notes that the suspect didn’t wish to pursue additional steps within the investigation.
One other nameless e mail was despatched by Thompson a couple of days later, below the topic line: “I’m so sorry.” The e-mail mentioned that the sender was determined, apologized for the earlier blackmail try, and promised to cease all contact. Suspicions had been nonetheless raised towards Thompson, resulting in a PSD investigation after which her arrest in October 2023.
Thompson was nonetheless in her probation interval with South Yorkshire Police and was instantly suspended upon her arrest. Additional investigation from PSD discovered that the emails had been despatched from her private laptop computer and that Thompson was in “important debt by playing”, though the precise quantity just isn’t publicly identified.
Police officer charged and sentenced
After pleading responsible at Leeds Crown Court docket on September 4, Thompson was sentenced to a few years and 4 months in jail for blackmail and perverting the course of justice. She has additionally been served with a Regulation 13 discover, which deems her unfit to function a police officer.
“Thompson’s crimes are shameful and forged a shadow over the wonderful work being delivered for our communities by policing colleagues pushed by equity, integrity and belief,” mentioned Detective Constable Alexandra Furniss, the officer answerable for this case.
“There is no such thing as a place in our pressure for law enforcement officials who fail to stay and work by our values and requirements. Our work to root out these people continues in our tireless bid to make sure our pressure builds and maintains the belief and confidence of the general public.”
A similar story was reported last month in Australia’s New South Wales, the place a police officer bought gold bars to fund his playing money owed.
Featured picture: South Yorkshire Police
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