A former police officer who stole £2.50 to pay off his tuck shop debt would have been dismissed if he had not resigned, a misconduct hearing found. 

Former police constable James Tillcock, who joined Thames Valley Police in December 2022 and was based at Bicester police station, stole the money during a vehicle search on June 21.

The former police constable was required to complete a Section 18 search of a vehicle in Kidlington following the arrest of the driver of the vehicle.

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Mr Tillcock was wearing and had activated his body worn video during the search of the vehicle and had stated in the search record that nothing was seized during the course of the search.

However, during the search the former police constable located some loose change in the centre console of the vehicle and took some coins.

At an interview on July 16 under caution for offences of Theft and Misconduct in Public Office, Tillcock said: "I was very silly, I was in debt for £2 to the tuck shop and took £2."

He used the remaining 50p to pay for a chocolate bar for his children.

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Chief Constable Jason Hogg said the misconduct was ;serious' and that it fell 'far below standards of behaviour expected of a member of the police service'.

"The fact that former police constable Tillcock has committed an offence of theft displays dishonesty on his part," he added. 

Mr Tillcock would have been dismissed had he not resigned from Thames Valley Police on August 12, which came into effect on September 9. 

About the author  

Charlotte joined the Oxford Mail in April 2024. 

She studied Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University. 

Charlotte has a particular focus on the Bicester patch and writes for the Bicester Advertiser as well as the Oxford Mail.

She can be found on X by searching @charcolesjourno.