Ex-policeman admits spree on Met credit card

Debt-ridden Matthew Washington turned to crime shortly after being issued with a Metropolitan Police credit card meant for work-related expenses.

In September 2009 he was convicted of misconduct and given a six-month suspended sentence. He subsequently appealed against his conviction and a retrial was ordered. Yesterday, at Southwark Crown Court in London, as his second trial was about to begin, he admitted his guilt.

The 38-year-old, who now runs his own property maintenance business after being sacked, was also sentenced yesterday with Judge Martin Beddoe re-imposing the original six-month jail term, suspended for eight months. There was no additional sentence.

The first trial was told Washington, who was more than 70,000 in debt, had effectively billed the taxpayer for 12,500 by the time he was arrested, 7,000 of it withdrawn in cash. He has since paid it all back.

Washington said he was the victim of an "office culture" that saw the corporate credit cards as personal property, but that he always intended to repay the money.