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Saturday, 26 October 2019

West Mercia Police Detective Convicted of Theft from Friend's Shop


A West Mercia Police detective has been convicted of stealing goods from a friend's cycling shop.

Detective Sergeant Matthew Hodgson, otherwise known as Matt Hodgson, 46, of Shrewsbury, denied charges of theft and attempted theft, but was convicted after a trial at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on 25th October 2019.

The officer, who is currently suspended from duties, works in the CID at Shrewsbury Police Station.

Deputy District Judge Gary Garland, presiding, heard that Hodgson was observed acting suspiciously by staff at the Shewsbury Go Outdoors store on 3rd January 2019. He was apprehended as he tried to leave the store with a £110 pair of trainers, without offering any sort of payment.

Staff retrieved the trainers and asked Hodgson to leave the store. Joel Edwards, manager of the store, said that Hodgson "got quite confrontational" in the car park on the way out.

On 7th February 2019 Hodgson visited Dave Mellor Cycles, also in Shrewsbury, where he had become friends with the owner, Mr Mellor.

He was seen on CCTV looking at a pair of gloves and two pairs of leggings before concealing them in a bag.

Mr Mellor, who knew Hodgson was a serving police officer, said: "It did not enter my head that he had stolen from me."

Jamie Simner, for Hodgson, said the father-of-two had been experiencing a certain level of stress. Hodgson denied intending to steal the items and medication he was taking for a sports injury had left him unable to remember either incident.

Judge Garland rejected Hodgson's defence, saying: "No one is sadder than me in having to find this case in the way I have."

Hodgson was given a 12 month conditional discharge for and ordered to pay £821 in costs and compensation.

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