Former Leicestershire Police Officer Who Stole £19 from Keyham Lane Police Station Tuck Shop Granted Leniency Due to Personal Challenges
A former Leicestershire police officer, PC 1809 Izabela Thorpe, stole £19 from a police station tuck shop.
The misconduct hearing revealed that PC Thorpe pilfered the money from the tuck shop floats at Keyham Lane Police Station on three separate occasions between December 9, 2022, and January 26, 2023. Each theft amounted to £4, £10, and £5, respectively.
The panel, chaired by Chief Constable Robert Nixon, acknowledged PC Thorpe's "extended stress" and its detrimental impact on her mental and physical health. These personal challenges, coupled with significant debt, led to financial strain that prompted her to succumb to the temptation to steal.
Despite the misconduct, Chief Constable Nixon recognised PC Thorpe's commendable 11-year service, during which she earned numerous commendations for her outstanding contributions to the community. Her professional record, he noted, was "impressive" and "littered with compliments and praise."
While he deemed the theft "completely unacceptable," Nixon emphasised that the behavior was "out of character" and directly linked to PC Thorpe's personal struggles. He emphasised that had she still been an active officer, he would have been "left with no choice but to issue a dismissal without notice."
PC Thorpe had previously received a police caution for the theft.
