Former Metropolitan Police Officer Blames 'Brain Fart' for Stealing Pret Tuna Baguette
A former Metropolitan Police officer who stole a £2.25 sandwich from Pret A Manger would have been dismissed from the force if he had not already left, a misconduct panel has determined. The incident, which occurred while the officer was on duty, has been described as reprehensible behaviour by the tribunal.
CCTV Evidence Captures Theft in North London
Former PC David Fyfe was captured on CCTV taking a tuna baguette from a Pret outlet located in the Wood Green shopping mall in north London on 9 April 2025. According to the written misconduct finding, Mr Fyfe spent several moments examining the sandwich fridge before selecting the baguette and immediately exiting the store without any attempt to make payment.
A Pret employee witnessed the officer leaving the shop holding the baguette, then entering the passenger seat of a police vehicle and driving away. The employee later reported the incident to another officer who had entered the store to purchase a coffee, leading to an investigation.
Officer's Defence: Lack of Sleep and a 'Brain Fart'
Mr Fyfe was interviewed under caution on 1 May 2025, where he admitted taking the sandwich but denied stealing it. He attributed his failure to pay to an oversight caused by lack of sleep and a recent argument, which he described as a 'brain fart'.
Interestingly, there was a discrepancy in the details of the stolen item. A store manager identified it as a slim tuna baguette costing £2.25, while Mr Fyfe claimed in his interview that it was a cheese and pickle baguette valued at £5, according to the panel's ruling.
Panel Finds Gross Misconduct and Justifies Dismissal
Following a hearing held on 13 February, the misconduct panel concluded that Mr Fyfe's actions constituted gross misconduct. The panel emphasised that a uniformed officer shoplifting in plain sight was reprehensible behaviour that undermined public trust.
The ruling stated that had Mr Fyfe still been a serving member of the Metropolitan Police, his conduct would have justified immediate dismissal from the force. This case highlights the serious consequences of such breaches of integrity within law enforcement.
