Advertisement

Disgraced detective who swindled council out of thousands let off with community order

Former Sussex Police detective Karen Colbran, 52, received a 12-month community order after being found guilty of fraud
Former Sussex Police detective Karen Colbran, 52, received a 12-month community order after being found guilty of fraud

A police detective who cheated on her council tax for 10 years has been let off with community service.

Former Sussex Police detective Karen Colbran, 52, received a 12-month community order after being found guilty of fraud.

Judge Mark van der Zwart, who said her career ended in disgrace, told Colbran: “There is no question of you being dealt with more leniently because you are a police officer.”

Colbran was found guilty last month of swindling more than £3,000 in council tax by claiming she lived alone - despite partner Paul McCloud living with her at her home in Hailsham.

“Your career of public service has ended in disgrace,” the judge said.

As well as the community order, Judge van der Zwart ordered Colbran to pay fines and costs totalling £1,800.

A jury in Lewes took less than half an hour to convict Colbran of council tax fraud.

The court heard she investigated serious and complex crime in CID.

The Sussex Police detective, originally from Kirkcaldy, Fife, applied for a backdated single person discount on her council tax in 2008 and kept on claiming for 10 years.

Colbran, 52, has been with Sussex Police for 24 years and had been a detective for 18 years.

The court heard her partner Paul McCloud, 55, was living with her.

Colbran filled in police vetting forms declaring Mr McCloud had lived with her at her home address in Hailsham since 2007.

DC Colbran told the court she thought council tax fraud was a civil matter despite being interviewed under caution.

The Argus: Former detective Karen Colbran has been given a 12-month community order
The Argus: Former detective Karen Colbran has been given a 12-month community order

Former detective Karen Colbran has been given a 12-month community order

"I just thought I had forgotten to tell them," she said. "I know I'm a serving police officer. I thought council tax would be civil. I didn't realise it was going to come as far as this."

Colbran was sacked by Sussex Police a week before she was sentenced.

DCI Jon Robeson said: “Sussex Police expects the highest personal and professional standards of anyone who works for us.

“The force’s Professional Standards Department will now consider misconduct proceedings following the result of the court case.”

Councillor Ray Cade, Wealden District Council's portfolio holder for housing and benefits, said: “The defendant fraudulently claimed thousands of pounds of council taxpayers’ money, which is totally unacceptable.

“Wealden council’s fraud investigations team is committed to bringing benefit cheats to justice and will pursue those who fraudulently take money from the public purse.

“It is the claimant’s responsibility to ensure the application is accurate and truthful along with notifying the council of any changes in their personal circumstances.”