Merseyside Police Constable Gary Carson has been dismissed from the force after exploiting the trust of his frail elderly neighbour to spend almost £31,000 of her money on personal items. A disciplinary hearing found that between February 2020 and March 2023, Carson used the woman's bank card to fund supermarket shops, takeaways, McDonald's, Starbucks, and even a pressure washer, without her permission.
Breach of Trust and Vulnerable Victim
The woman, who has since died, lived next door to Carson in Runcorn, Cheshire. Her daughter later told police that her mother was "infatuated with anyone that wore a uniform" and felt safe knowing a police officer lived next door. Despite this trust, Carson failed to raise safeguarding concerns about the woman's living conditions, which included a filthy house with a blocked toilet, minimal food, and evidence of urine and faeces on the floor.
The Crown Prosecution Service declined to pursue criminal charges, but the disciplinary panel found Carson guilty of gross misconduct. The panel noted that Carson could not explain £30,980.68 of spending from her accounts, which included £24,727.35 in Tesco orders, payments to Domino's Pizza, Papa John's, My Protein, Uber Eats, Tool Station, Pure Gym, and purchases on dates when the woman was in hospital.
Financial Struggles and Denials
Carson, who had a county court judgment recorded against him in 2013 and was struggling financially, claimed he only purchased items for the woman or with her permission. In a written statement, he said he was "sickened" that his actions to help his neighbour had been "misconstrued." However, the panel concluded his conduct was "intentional, deliberate, and planned" and that he purchased items for the benefit of himself and his family.
The woman became defensive when told of Carson's actions, saying she "didn't want him to get in trouble." The panel also found that Carson breached professional standards by failing to make a safeguarding referral despite his training, given the woman's vulnerable state and poor living conditions.
Family Discovery and Police Response
The woman's daughter rekindled their relationship in 2022 after learning her mother was in hospital. Around Christmas 2023, she visited and found the house in poor condition, with a blocked toilet and minimal food. When she investigated her mother's finances, she noticed unusual purchases, including fuel for a car the woman did not own and a £10,000 transfer from savings to a current account. The daughter reported her suspicions after spotting a payment to Police Supplies UK.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sabi Kaur, head of Merseyside Police's Professional Standards Department, said: "He exploited the trust of a vulnerable, elderly woman and – while he may have made purchases requested by the neighbour – went on to buy other items beyond what had been agreed. His behaviour was completely unacceptable and risked seriously undermining public confidence in policing."
Dismissal and Barred List
The disciplinary panel, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ryan, found Carson breached standards of honesty and integrity and brought the police service into disrepute. He was dismissed without notice and added to the College of Policing barred list, preventing him from serving in policing again.
