Ex-burglar suing police over reveal
A CRIMINAL is suing Northumbria Police because a detention officer told people he was a burglar.
Former ‘one-man crimewave’ Mark Smith has been arrested over 100 times.
But he claims his human rights were violated when Detention Officer Alex Coulson told strangers about his past.
The Northumbria Police staff member quit after a complaint from Mr Smith, who insists: “I want every last penny. He had no right to tell people about my past.
“I admit I’ve burgled people before, but that was almost 20 years ago.
“But this is harassment and the police are making my life hell.”
The dad-of-four, whose criminal record is over 23 pages long, was once banned from the North Shields streets he terrorised.
He’s been involved in violence and was once even at the centre of an armed police stand-off.
However, claiming his criminal ways are behind him, he moved over the river to South Shields for a “clean break”.
But last January, Mr Smith said the drunken officer threatened him in Talbot Discount Stores.
“He stormed in and asked the shopkeeper if he knew I was a burglar, then said ‘if any houses get done around here I will kill you,” claimed the 45-year-old, of Richmond Road.
“It was awful behaviour. I moved to South Shields for a clean break where nobody knows me.
“I should be able to start a new life, but he wouldn’t leave me alone.
“It is affecting my mental health and the way he acted was disgraceful.”
Documents claim the officer had to be restrained during a heated exchange, in which he allegedly told Mr Smith to “get back to the North side’”.
A friend of the officer – who worked at Middle Engine Lane’s custody suite – told investigators that they’d been “having a few beers” when they popped to the shop for a top-up. He claimed Mr Smith was the agitator, calling the officer a “pig”.
But when questioned by bosses, DO Coulson admitted bringing up Mr Smith’s past.
“Yes, I said he was a burglar and probably shouldn’t have,” he told professional standards investigators.
“But it’s true – he is a burglar.” Northumbria Police investigators found DO Coulson had a case to answer for misconduct, stating his actions “could amount to bullying and harassment”.
He left the force before September’s hearing.
However, a panel ruled he would have been sacked if he hadn’t resigned.
Unemployed Mr Smith’s lawyers are now seeking unspecified damages from the force for comments they say were meant to “degrade” their client.
“The officer disclosing the offending history of the claimant was not done for a specified explicit or legitimate purpose,” states legal papers seen by the Sunday Sun. “Rather it was done maliciously .... to degrade the claimant.”
They argue there was “clear interference” into his right to a private life under Article Eight of the 1998 Human Right’s Act.
The act states public authorities, such as the police, can’t interfere with people’s private lives unless it is for things such as preventing crime, national security or public safety.
Northumbria Police said it would be “inappropriate” to comment on the civil claim while it is ongoing.
However, Supt Steve Ammari, Head of Professional Standards with the force, said: “We can confirm a complaint was made about the conduct of a police staff member while they were not at work, which was subsequently investigated by the Professional Standards Department.
“During the course of this investigation, the individual resigned.
“Last September, a misconduct hearing was held and the panel returned a finding of gross misconduct.”
He had no right to tell people about my past. I admit I’ve burgled people before, but that was almost 20 years ago.
MARK SMITH