Met community officer sentenced over shop work while 'sick'
A Met Police community support officer who worked in Kent while claiming he was off sick has been spared jail.
Daniel Earls, 45, was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Southwark Crown Court.
He worked at his wife's flower shop in Sittingbourne, while claiming £23,000 in salary for his role in the Met.
According to the judge, he was spared prison because of his bravery record. In 2006 and again in 2008 he chased suspects armed with a handgun.
Earls had claimed he was sick with stress, fatigue and a digestive disorder, which left him unable to get out of bed.
But the court heard he was caught when undercover officers conducted a test purchase in the shop.
He was found guilty of fraud by false representation.