Former Notts police officer caught stealing collectable stamps from auctioneers
A NOTTS police officer of 30 years was caught red-handed having stolen collectable stamps from an auction house.
Staff at Warwick and Warwick auctioneers became suspicious of stamp collector Mark Raithby when they noticed the stamps had gone missing when he went to his car at lunchtime on March 3.
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When he returned, they escorted him back to his car, and found the missing items in there under a newspaper.
Warwick Crown Court heard the stamps were worth £250.
Raithby, 53, who retired from Notts Police this week, initially denied stealing them, but later admitted one charge of theft.
The court heard Raithby pleaded guilty on the basis that he did not recall taking the stamps, but found them in his bag when he returned to his car, and panicked.
Not knowing what to do, he stole them by leaving them in the car instead of taking them back to the auction house.
Judge Christopher Hodson gave Raithby, of Church Drive, Daybrook, a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered him to pay £1,200 costs within 28 days.
He told Raithby: "You have pleaded guilty on a basis that you are not guilty of theft by having removed the items from the premises to your car, but that when you were at your car you realised they were there – and then appropriated them and kept hold of them.
"That has been accepted by the prosecution because they have seen the psychiatric report on you.
"You were plainly under a considerable degree of stress at the time."
The court heard Raithby was a keen stamp collector and had been attending the monthly stamp auctions at Warwick and Warwick on a regular basis for a number of years.
He viewed stamps prior to the auctions and regularly put in bids.
Christopher Geeson, for the defence, said: "Mr Raithby is someone of good character who has never been in trouble before."
Mr Geeson added Raithby, who has a 15-year-old daughter at home and another at university, was suffering from stress and anxiety after the death of his father and over his mother's deteriorating health.
Mr Geeson said: "When one looks at the general character of this man, he has lost a lot. He has lost his good character."
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by phil, gedling
Saturday, July 31 2010, 2:49AM
“theres alot more sh.t out there in the force higher up the ladder that must be caught weeding a few now and again is no good these people got well payed jobs and steal.people looking for work got no money they steal to feed kids not for greed and they get called the lowest of the low but the wealthy get away with it for years they stop us stealing so theres more left for them to steal then they blame us we need working class people out there to judge and sentance these people who use their positions to steal end of (hang um)”
by rick, looking for life in urban notts
Saturday, July 31 2010, 1:06AM
“gene
you chose the job now get it done and do it properly and stop whining like you think you deserve a medal...
oooh...and dont get caught pinching stamps,or anything else or we will be here again in another pointless online tennis match.”
by Gene, Looking For Life On Mars
Friday, July 30 2010, 6:34PM
“This bloke was caught, dealt with and will live in shame. We've ascertained that now. As for pensions, its getting rather annoying now Liz love. A police constable earns his penny's, but like all walks of life, there are problems, and on occasion, a bad apple. The bad are few, and hated within the force. An average bobby works a 6 (sometimes 7) day set of shifts, usually with 2 early morning 7am starts, then 2 after noon 3, 4 or 5 pm starts (some afternoon). This shift will finish between midnight and 4 am. A night shift is usually 10 pm to 7am. The working week is anywhere between 54 - 65 hours with 4 rest days in between. Try fitting a family life around that.
Bobbies cannot reply on weekends off to spend time with the kids, and leave is restricted to when it can be taken due to operational requiriements and can be cancelled. The location of where a police officer lives can be dictated to the officer by the chief officer. OT wise - when a 9 or 10 hour shift is over (often without eating all day), I'd rather get home, but there are times when that is a requirement, so tough (and the first half hour of being late off is unpaid anyway (or for the Queen, as is the saying).
Yes Liz, 11% of pre tax salary is paid to a pension each month which in real terms is around 340 pounds per month. That works out at 100,00 pounds over 30 years in contributions.
If you want to continue to be an armchair general with a rather strong anti police streak running through you, then fine. But there used to be an advert for the police asking "Could You?" I ask you then, Could You?
As for me, I earn my money, and my pension is fair for the work, hours and bloody selflessness that I contribute to society which is increasingly violent, disrespectful and demanding of its so caled 'rights' when it casts aside its responsibilities.”
by mr clever, in a higher queue
Friday, July 30 2010, 5:56PM
“the lousy thief wants his hands chopping off at the very least.”
by Andrew, Wales
Friday, July 30 2010, 5:36PM
“liz ,
be a good girl and fetch me a nice cup of tea,before you do the washing up.
ta babe”
by Liz, Nottingham
Friday, July 30 2010, 1:25PM
“I have no connection with the police. I just believe that they should behave honestly. I can't believe that I am the only person who thinks this way.
I accept the man should receive a refund of the contributions he paid into the scheme. However, that falls far short of the benefits he receives in the form of a pension.
Incidentally, although the normal minimum pension age for police has gone up to 55 for recruits since 2006 I have discovered that they are exempt from the provisions of the Finance Act 2004 and I was mistaken in believing that those with prior service are not allowed to retire before 55 (unlike the rest of the public sector), so yes, they do pay 11% of salary whereas many in the public sector only pay 7% but they get a fabulous return for their 11%.”
by Andrew, Wales
Friday, July 30 2010, 11:32AM
“To the 'Andrew Wales' impersonating me for some strange reason, I can't answer your question, sorry,”
by Andrew, Wales
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:39AM
“Well then how is it most other government pension schemes have fell in value while the police scheme has gone the opposite way?”
by S, Bakersfield
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:27AM
“Sorry Liz, you've been outvoted 1 against 50.
The superannuation contributions you wan to get hold of are as has been pointed out HIS OWN. So this means he is deprived of HIS OWN money.
So when you re read your dummies guide to superannuation check again on voluntary contributions.
Are you a notts police civilian, with an axe to grind?”
by Andrew, Wales
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:09AM
“Liz. Agree it is a very gnerous scheme, but individuals put 11% of their salary in the pensionscheme over a thirty year period. You can join the Police at 18 on a thirty year contract and hence retire at 48. If members of other public Sector wished to contribute as much then I am sure they could.”