COMMENT

A former police officer who used to guard Margaret Thatcher’s defence secretary wept in court yesterday as he denied intimidating his elderly mother or taking £60,000 from her bank account.

Former firearms officer Andrew Rough said claims of embezzlement against him and his wife Jean, also a retired police officer, were untrue.

He said his mother, Gladys Rough, 86, who earlier testified against him, had been “influenced” by other family members whom he said “had a grudge”.

Rough, 58, who retired with the rank of sergeant in 2002, said he was “deeply hurt” by her claims.

“He said that shooting was also his hobby and he had represented the British police seven times in the world clay target shooting championships”