Detective denies card fraud claim

Detective Constable Christopher Fernley told a court he did not abuse the American Express charge card and he had mistakenly claimed it as a police expense, thinking it was a hotel he had stayed at with colleagues.

As it was, he was on leave at the time he stayed at the Devonshire Arms Country House in the Yorkshire Dales while he and his wife attended a wedding party in August 2006, charging 746.80 to the card, which was intended solely for police expenses incurred in the course of duty.

Giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court, he agreed it was a "particularly exclusive" hotel, but said he had not distinguished it from the places he stayed at for police business. He blamed "glaring mistakes" he had offered to pay for.

Fernley denies five counts of false accounting over transactions made on the card, including one for a French theme park.

The trial continues.