A police officer has been sentenced to four months in prison after CCTV footage showed him stealing a pair of underwear from an arrested woman's drawer. Marcin Zielinski was filmed on 12 September last year rummaging through the woman's belongings before placing the pink underwear into his back pocket and leaving the room.
The incident occurred after the woman was arrested and taken to Hatfield police station over an allegation, though no further action was taken. The footage was released by the woman on Monday, following Zielinski's sentencing for corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges.
Hertfordshire Constabulary Assistant Chief Constable Genna Telfer condemned the officer's actions, stating: "Zielinski has let down the public of Hertfordshire, the police service as a whole and his former colleagues, who act with professionalism and integrity."
She added: "His criminal behaviour damages the reputation of policing and represents a fundamental betrayal of the public and the values for which the police service stands."
The force has not commented on whether Zielinski remains in custody or on any internal disciplinary proceedings.
