Policeman spared jail for barbers rampage

A POLICE officer who smashed up a barbers during a drunken rampage has been spared jail after a judge described his career as “stellar” up until the offence.

Pc Thomas Pearson, 25, caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage after he broke his way into Envy Barbers in Covent Garden, London, on Feb 8 last year.

The off-duty constable denied wrongdoing and insisted his drink had been spiked inside a nightclub, but he was convicted at the Old Bailey of burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage. The court heard that police sergeant Fiona Scott – from the third floor of Charing Cross police station, opposite the barbers – saw Pearson use a traffic cone as a battering ram to smash through the entrance of the shop. She and two fellow officers arrested him.

Judge Sarah Munro QC said the offence was “tragic” for the police officer’s good character and career prospects, “which but for this offence were stellar”.

He was given an absolute discharge and must pay £1,000 costs.