A disgraced police officer exploited his elderly neighbour's trust, using her bank card to spend over £30,000 on McDonald's, Starbucks, and other items. Former Merseyside Police Constable Gary Carson began doing small jobs for the woman, such as shopping, as her health declined. The elderly neighbour was reportedly 'smitten' with Carson and trusted him with her bank card, initially allowing its use for 'ice creams' and gifts.
Unauthorised Spending Spree
Between February 2020 and March 2023, Carson made numerous unauthorised purchases, including nearly £25,000 at Tesco, over £750 at Starbucks and Amazon, £150 at McDonald's, and more at Halfords and Tool Station. Additional payments were made to Domino's Pizza, My Protein, O2, Uber Eats, Manscaped, and ManCave. The total expenditure exceeded £30,000.
Financial Manipulation
Carson also registered his email address with the neighbour's bank accounts to transfer funds and conduct online transactions. He took control of her savings account, transferring nearly £11,000 to cover the expenditures. The misconduct hearing revealed that Carson's own finances were in dire straits at the time, with multiple defaults and repayment plans.
Misconduct Hearing and Dismissal
A Merseyside Police misconduct hearing found Carson breached professional behaviour standards to the level of gross misconduct. He was sacked without notice and added to the College of Policing barred list, preventing future police employment. Detective Chief Superintendent Sabi Kaur stated: 'He exploited the trust of a vulnerable, elderly woman... His behaviour was completely unacceptable and risked seriously undermining public confidence in policing.'
Criminal Investigation
A criminal investigation by Cheshire Police resulted in no charges due to the neighbour's reluctance to support prosecution. A spokesperson confirmed: 'A case file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that there should be no charges.'
Background of the Relationship
Carson moved into his home in February 2012, and the neighbour became a 'grandmother figure' to his family. They shared BBQs, holidays, and gifts. As her health deteriorated, Carson performed tasks like gardening and shopping. He claimed purchases were gifts from her, but the panel found he used the account to benefit himself and his family, stating: 'Ordinary decent people would know that it was dishonest to use a bank account to make unauthorised purchases.' The neighbour's daughter discovered the situation in December 2023, finding unpaid bills and bank statements showing unauthorised payments.
