Croydon police officer found guilty of insurance fraud
A Metropolitan police officer who made a false insurance claim that his mobile phone had been stolen has been found guilty of fraud.
Gareth Beard, 35, claimed his phone was stolen from a McDonald's restaurant in Croydon, south London.
He entered his own crime report onto the Met's crime reporting system, Scotland Yard said.
Beard, who was serving as a PC in the Croydon area, claimed that his phone was stolen in April 2010.
The borough's crime management unit queried why there was no evidence of the crime.
The incident was reported to the Directorate of Professional Standards in June 2010 which investigated.
He was found guilty of fraud by false representation on Thursday and resigned from the police force.
He will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 11 October.