Volunteer Cop Accused Of Stealing Police Equipment

A police-obsessed civilian employee and volunteer cop stashed a hoard of equipment he had stolen at the suburban home he shared with his grandmother, a court heard today.

Special Constable and Acting Sergeant Toby Biginton, 23, nicked police radios; batons; keys; computer equipment and even a body bag, Croydon Crown Court was told.

The jury was played recorded footage of the search, which recovered a large amount of stolen police equipment found amongst Biginton’s collection of Police Academy DVD’s and The Bill box sets.

Biginton, of Rosecroft Close, Orpington has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of theft between August 1, 2020 and September 10, 2021.

He also denies two counts of possessing offensive weapons; namely police batons at his home address on September 10, 2021.

He is a police civilian employee, working with the custody services team responsible for ordering and supplying uniforms to the Met and is a representative for special constables under investigation.

“This young man was a serving member of police staff, where he was a Team Leader and was also a volunteer special constable and supervisor, with the rank of sergeant,” said prosecutor Shekinah Anson.

“Police officers attended the address he shares with his grandmother and during a search they recovered items of property belonging to the Metropolitan Police Service.

“The Crown say he was dishonest and had these items without authority or permission and without the knowledge of his line manager.

“Mr Biginton did not have the authority to have these items in his possession and he did not tell anybody or record that he had these items.

“He received training regarding the handling of Metropolitan Police property and equipment,” added Ms Anson. “He knew those policies and procedures as a member of police staff and volunteer police officer.”

Six stolen police radios were found. “They gave Mr Biginton access to live police communications in the entire Metropolitan Police area and the Kent force.

“There were two solid police batons and an extendable ASP baton.”

Biginton was questioned about having those batons. “He said he intended to donate them to the police cadets for talks, give them to Bromley Police Cadets,” explained the prosecutor.

“He was treating these items as his own to do with as he pleased. he had numerous opportunities to give the batons to the cadets, but failed to do so.

“He took these items in breach of trust over a period of time.

“He said the radios were for a charity event and he failed to return them and the computer equipment allowed him to access sensitive information.

“He said he had the computer equipment so he could work from home and the laptop was for his special constable work.”

Biginton also had keys for an unmarked police vehicle and insisted he always intended to return them.

He claimed to not even know he had possession of a stolen bodybag. “He said it was at the bottom of a cardboard box he used to move stuff between Bromley and Bexley police stations.

“He was randomly taking things from police stations he was either working at or visiting.”

Trial continues……………..