Footballer's Bent copper cousin dodges jail theft from dead man (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Footballer's Bent copper cousin dodges jail theft from dead man

6:00pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

A serving police officer related to England footballer Darren Bent has dodged jail despite stealing more than £250 from a dead man.

PC Richard Bent, from Wandsworth, was handed a 24-week sentence, suspended for one year, after admitting two counts of theft at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.

The 28-year-old had stolen the money after being assigned to guard a flat in Page Street, Westminster, while the death of Rustam Cihhudy was being investigated on July 13.

He obtained the keys to the property and went inside where he stole £250 in cash and various items including a passport and a cheque book.

A short time later, while en route back to Belgravia police station, he was stopped and handed a bag found in the street.

However instead of booking it in as lost property he took £93 from the bag, deposited it into his own bank account before discarding the bag.

Bent, who resorted to dishonesty to support his high rolling lifestyle, later told shocked colleagues: "No disrespect, but he's dead. He wasn't going anywhere soon."

Commander Allan Gibson, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "We expect the highest standard of conduct from our officers and this individual clearly fell well below this. Therefore it is entirely right that he take full responsibility for his failings.

"His dismissal and criminal conviction sends a clear message to both the public and colleagues that the Metropolitan Police Service will not tolerate such serious professional failings and criminal conduct."

Following his conviction Bent was "dismissed without notice" from his position as a police constable at Belgravia police station.

He was also found guilty of gross misconduct following an internal Metropolitan Police misconduct curfew until January 15 next year.

Bent admitted two counts of theft - in respect of the £250 and £93 - at a hearing at the same court last month.