An off-duty UK police officer has been caught stealing a rucksack full of snacks from a Lidl store in Devon, which has cost him his career and reputation.
Christopher Spence, 44, was caught on CCTV at the Lidl on Clovelly Road in Bideford on February 12. He was stuffing £30 worth of nuts, cheese, drinks, and treats into his bag before paying for just one item at the self-checkout.
Ironically, Spence had been assigned to address shoplifting in the area and was well-known to the store staff, having previously visited the supermarket in uniform.
Prosecutor Feleena Grosvenor revealed at Exeter Crown Court that he was scheduled to visit the store that same day in connection with an assault case involving staff.
Initially, Spence denied the theft, claiming he left the stolen items in a basket after realising he had the wrong bank card. However, CCTV footage disproved his story, prompting him to plead guilty.
Sentence and Impact
Spence, a father of three from Abbotsham, Devon, has been given an 18-month community order.
The sentence requires him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £300 towards prosecution costs, a victim surcharge, and £30 in compensation to the store.
Suspended from duty since his arrest, Spence now faces misconduct proceedings that are expected to end his police career. Judge Stephen Climie described the theft as a “moment of madness” with lifelong consequences.
Defending Spence, lawyer Warren Robinson admitted, “It’s a tragedy of his own making. He has thrown himself under the bus.”
Superintendent Toby Davies, Commander for North and West Devon, expressed his disappointment in Spence’s actions, emphasizing that they do not reflect the force’s values.
“We are deeply disappointed by the actions of Chris Spence, particularly given his neighbourhood role within the community,” Davies said. “First and foremost, I want to assure our community that the action of one individual does not reflect the values or integrity of our local officers.”
Davies added that incidents like this are rare and stressed the importance of maintaining public trust:
“This behaviour undermines all those officers who behave to the highest standards daily, keeping our area safe.
We will remain open and transparent and hold ourselves accountable as we move forward.”
Spence’s actions are a stark reminder of the high standards expected of law enforcement officers and the severe consequences of breaching public trust.
