Police Officer jailed for downloading porn whilst guarding the home of recently deceased child in the absence of the homeowner
BY JAMES TWOMEY
james@slpmedia.co.uk
A police officer has been jailed for 12 months for buying pornography at a house he was watching over after a child had just died.
PC Avi Maharaj, 44, from Hayes, west London was supposed to be guarding the home of a family who were away grieving after their son committed suicide.
Maharaj, who was based in Earlsfield, was waiting for the undertaker to collect the 14-year-old body when he spent £25.96 on pornography using the household internet account.
Maharaj guessed the password and downloaded four pornographic films.
He then falsified his attendance logs, claiming he left the property in Littleton Street, Earlsfield almost two hours earlier than he really did as part of a bid to cover up his actions, the court heard.
In July, he pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Westminster magistrates’ Court and was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.
Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Holdcroft, from the Met’s Directorate of
Professional Standards, said: “We expect the highest standards of professional
behaviour from all of our officers and staff and the actions of PC Maharaj fell far below that level.”
Sal Naseem, regional director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said: “PC Maharaj’s behaviour was shocking and even more so given he was guarding the property in the absence of the homeowner.
“Not only were his actions deceitful but he caused considerable distress for the family involved who were dealing with the sudden death of a family member.
“Our investigation showed that PC Maharaj was the only person in the property who could have access to download pornographic channels at the time the account was accessed.
“Today he has admitted his guilt under the weight of compelling evidence.
“I am sorry that the family involved had to deal with this while also coping with the tragic loss of their child.”
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