PC 'stole licence to help boyfriend' court told

Oct 25 2012

Police

A police officer stole a provisional driving licence for his teenage boyfriend to use to get into nightclubs, a court heard.

PC Jason Connolly, 25, of Ruislip, allegedly stole Callum McCulloch's licence after spending the night at his home in Brighton, East Sussex, following a night out at Revenge Nightclub during the 2010 Gay Pride Festival.

The officer then gave the identity document to his partner at the time, 17-year-old Dean Banbridge, to use it to fool nightclub bouncers into believing he was 18, it is allaged.

Mr Connolly  is also accused of stealing £40 from Thomas Taylor during a dinner date at his house in October 2011.
It is alleged that Mr Taylor noticed the missing money and confronted Mr Connolly over text message, who 'tried to persuade' him not to report the matter to police. He agreed.

Prosecutor Piers Von Berg said the two offences came to light when Mr Banbridge reported the alleged theft of the licence to police after he split up with Connolly.

When officers interviewed Connolly they discovered a series of text message on his phone relating to the apparent theft of £40 from Mr Taylor.

"Both these thefts happened in similar circumstances," said Mr Von Berg. "The defendant barely knew Mr McCulloch and Mr Taylor.

"On both occasions it happened in the context of a night out, with Mr McCulloch, or a date that was organised online with Mr Taylor.
"After the night out the defendant stole the licence, and during the date the defendant stole the money."

Mr Connolly denies both counts of theft, telling police when interviewed that the allegations were malicious. He also said that he had never met Mr McCulloch.

The trial, at Southwark Crown Court, continues.