Met officer bought porn while guarding child’s dead body

HE WAS WAITING FOR AN UNDERTAKER TO ARRIVE WHEN HE USED THE FAMILY’S VIRGIN ACCOUNT

A MET Police officer who was supposed to be guarding a family home where a young child died used their cable television to buy porn while he waited for an undertaker to arrive.

PC Avi Maharaj, 44, admitted fraud after he purchased access to the porn, which cost £25.96, on the family’s Virgin TV account after the death of the child at a home in South London in February last year.

PC Maharaj, of Kingswood Place in Hayes, admitted the charge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday July 16.

The court heard how we was on duty and was tasked with guarding the scene when he bought the porn – while the child’s body was reportedly still in the house.

The homeowner had left and PC Maharaj, who is based with police in Earlsfield, was waiting for the undertaker to arrive.

A member of the child’s family then made a formal complaint and the matter was referred to police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Westminster Magistrates’ Court The IOPC found the officer was the only person present at the home when the purchases were made and evidence that he may have falsified his attendance log to cover up what he had done.

IOPC regional director Sal Naseem, described PC Maharaj’s behaviour as “shocking”.

He said: “Not only were his actions deceitful but he caused considerable distress for the family involved who were dealing with the sudden death of a family member.

“Our investigation showed that PC Maharaj was the only person in the property who could have downloaded access to pornographic channels at the time the account was accessed.

“Today he has admitted his guilt under the weight of compelling evidence.

“I am sorry that the family involved had to deal with this while also coping with the tragic loss of their child.”

PC Maharaj is due to be sentenced for fraud at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday August 6.

The IOPC also found he has a case to answer for gross misconduct and a Met Police misconduct hearing is due to take place.