Dishonest Cop Jailed For Six and A Half Years

Alexis Scott, the PCSO who used her knowledge of Gatwick to steal thousands of pounds from passengers travelling from the Sussex airport, has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Scott, 39, from Plumstead, London, who appeared at Canterbury Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday (September 25), was found guilty in July of six offences of theft and one of misconduct in public office, after a trial lasting just over three weeks. She was sentenced to six-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for the misconduct in public office offence and two years for each of the theft offences, to run concurrently.

The court heard how she approached passengers as they were about to go through the final gate on to their flight and asked how much cash they were carrying with them. She advised some of them that were carrying more than the maximum amount allowed and ‘confiscated’ the balance telling them that they could claim it back when they returned. She then placed the money under her uniform hat and headed back to the police station to remove it.

Her crimes came to light quite quickly as returning passengers started to ask various airport authorities for their money back. Scott, from Plumstead, London, was arrested and a ‘complex’ investigation showed that more than £15,000 had been stolen from seven victims.

In sentencing Scott,  Judge James O’Mahony paid tribute to the police investigation that led to the conviction and awarded four Crown Court commendations to Sussex Police officers involved in the case.

Deputy Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said:

“Sussex Police expects the highest personal and professional standards of everyone who works for us. Scott fell woefully short of those standards, abusing the trust that we had placed in her, but more importantly, the trust of the public and in particular, the victims of her crimes.

Passengers and other users of Gatwick Airport rightly expect that those who wear the uniform of Sussex Police do so with integrity and honesty. Scott failed in this simple requirement and has been duly punished, but this mustn’t be allowed to reflect upon the professionalism, honesty and integrity of other employees of Sussex Police who work tirelessly and selflessly around the clock.

This was a complex and detailed investigation of an audacious act, but any such act will not be tolerated and we acted swiftly and decisively as soon as it came to light.”