A former Isle of Man Police officer who concocted an elaborate plot to steal from a Bradford bingo hall by claiming he was an undercover detective, has been jailed for four years.
29 year-old Matt Brakewell stole ?2,000 from a bingo hall while pretending to be involved in covert surveillance and was then caught trying to carry out a copycat crime in Bradford.
He was arrested at a Bradford bingo hall 11 days after he stole the cash from the Mecca premises in Rochdale.
Brakewell, who served with the Manx force for three years until earlier this year when he left the Island to pursue his own business interests, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and burglary.
His barrister Stephen Wood told the court his client was ?20,000 in debt.
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