Badcop Fleeces Child Crime Victims Charity

A disgraced female detective has admitted defrauding a police children's charity, which raised funds for crime victims, out of at least £26,000.

Ex-Detective Sergeant Louise Ord, 42, who was sacked by City of London Police in February, last year controlled the force's charity Child Victims of Crime.

Ord, of Harwich Road, Colchester, Essex, who worked with sexual abuse victims, was a nominated signature on cheque's paid on the charity's behalf and sat on it's committee.

She pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to one count of fraud in that between January 16, 2007 and April 6, 2009, dishonestly, with intent to gain, or expose others to the risk of loss abused her position of trust as a police officer and committee member by taking monies.

Alcoholic Ord, who has an eleven year-old daughter with her ex-husband - a Royal Protection Police Officer - has made "serious attempts at suicide" the court was told.

Prosecutor Miss Claire Howell told the court (pictured): "The defence has always maintained she intended to repay the money, but the prosecution say she did not have anything like the money she had taken."

The prosecution confirmed Ord paid £26,000 into her bank account, but the charity's total losses were £46,500.

"She was regularly taking money out an deposited a lesser figure in her account," explained Miss Howell. "She was clearly keeping some of that cash for herself."

Ord organised a charity dinner and did pay for a band and speaker in a fund-raising function sponsored by major banks and companies.

"The defendant has insisted throughout her disciplinary hearing and interviews that she had made repayments to the charity during the time the offences were committed," said Miss Howell.

"She offered to show the police through her bank statements, but after a suicide attempt her solicitor gave her advice and from then on she answered all questions: 'No comment.'

"There is no evidence on the bank accounts, no evidence whatsoever that she paid money back to the charity before or after her arrest."

Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith bailed Ord until November 4 when the probation service asked for him to order a psychiatric report if he considered imprisonment was the only option.

"I have seen who the losers are and the amounts and based on that the care of the daughter has become extremely important in my mind," he announced.

"This is a very serious case and I am considering not just a prison sentence, but an appreciable prison sentence and this will effect not just this lady, but her child.

"I understand she is an alcoholic and extremely depressed at the moment and I have spoken bluntly so Mrs Ord is not under and misunderstanding.

"The defence are asking for a suspended sentence, but I think that is going to be extremely unlikely."

The charity was founded in 1994 to support children whose lives had been affected by crime following the 1993 IRA bombing of Warrington, which killed 12 year-old Tim Parry.

Patrons of the charity include Crimewatch presenter Fiona Bruce and former England rugby star Dean Richards - himself a police officer.

Money raised is used to pay for care and equipment required by children who fall victim to crime, and to send them on holidays.