Cambridgeshire PC says scanning 7p carrot barcode when buying donuts was an 'honest mistake'
The incident happened at a Tesco Extra in Wisbech back in February
A Cambridgeshire Police Officer who is accused of scanning a 7p barcode for carrots instead of the £10 Krispy Kreme donuts has said it was an 'honest mistake'.
PC Simon Read told a misconduct hearing that he did not realise he scanned the carrot barcode twice at the self-service tills at a Tesco Extra in Wisbech, on 10 February this year.
He did accept that he failed to scan the barcode for the box of 12 donuts while he was buying four items (donuts, carrots, sandwich and a drink) but said it was not done on purpose.
PC Read was in uniform and on duty at the time of the incident.
When asked if he intended to steal the donuts, he told today's hearing:
"Absolutely not, and I'm horrified we're in this situation here today.'
The Cambridgeshire Police officer, who joined the force in January of this year, said he was buying the sweet treats for colleagues as a "cake fine'':
"Cake fines are fairly common in the police
"It's a way of being punished in a light-hearted way.''
PC Read added that people could be given a 'cake fine' if they were having a bad day, or if they were joining or leaving a department.
He told the hearing he was buying the carrots for his sergeant who was on a diet and thought 'it would be funny' to present them in a Krispy Kreme bag.
The officer explained to the hearing what happened
PC Read said he stuck the carrots barcode onto the donut tray, as it would have spoiled the joke if he stuck it on the paper bag:
"I simply scanned where I believed the barcodes were and placed them down (in the bagging area).
"I didn't check the screen.
"I wish I had have done.
"I wish I had paid more attention to what was an ordinary experience - going to the shop, scanning some items and paying.''
The officer said said he felt "embarrassed'' by what happened.
He also said he took a receipt but did not look at it.
Lawyer Mark Ley-Morgan, putting the misconduct case, said:
"He's maintained from the outset this is all a horrible mistake, of him failing to pay attention while scanning his items.
"We say this is very unlikely to be the truth.''
"He would have had to be standing there with his eyes closed not to see what was happening on the screen in front of him.
"You have to tap the screen.
"You have to tap to check out, you have to tap to say if you want any bags, you have to say which method of payment you choose.
"Do you do that without looking at the screen?''
"It beggars belief that he wouldn't at some point have seen he was being charged just over £4, knowing some moments before he picked up an item that cost a tenner.''
Pc Read is accused of breaching two professional standards, of discreditable conduct, and of honesty and integrity.
The hearing, listed for two days, continues.