Ex-cop’s relief as shoplifting case thrown Out
A FORMER top Scots policeman has spoken of his relief after being cleared of shoplifting charges.
Ex-Police Scotland assistant chief constable John Mauger had been accused of taking three steaks worth £56.83 from a Tesco store in Colchester.
But the case has been thrown out just weeks after The Sunday Post revealed the toll that a five-year whistleblowing battle with Police Scotland had taken on Mr Mauger.
He had always maintained his innocence and has now been cleared after the Crown Prosecution Service and Mr Mauger’s defence team completed separate psychiatric reports.
Prosecutors said it was not in the public interest to proceed with this case and Judge David Goodin returned a formal not guilty verdict. Mr Mauger said: “When I went shopping in March 2016, it was just another day on gardening leave that has existed for me in one form or another for over the previous six years.
“People might think that is nice but the reality of being shunned by former work colleagues and your employer for being a whistleblower is rather different.
“I went shopping for some steak and found myself bei n g arrested for shoplifting a variety of items which in fact had been in my pockets when I left home.
“The shop CCTV system failed to capture me stealing anything else but did record my strange behaviour which has subsequently been confirmed as symptoms of Po s t - Tr au m a t i c St re s s Disorder associated with stress created by my gardening leave issues.
“Both my family and I have been affected by this saga and I feel sorry for many of my erstwhile colleagues who have to grin and bear similar treatment when they challenge the system in Scotland.”
Speaking to The Sunday Post last month, Mr Mauger – who was at the thirdhighest level in the force hierarchy before retiring earlier this year – condemned the decision to allow the Old Firm game to go ahead on Hogmanay as “absolute madness”.