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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Detective guilty of kerb crawling | Detective guilty of kerb crawling |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Metropolitan Police officer has been convicted of kerb crawling in Ipswich six months after five prostitutes were killed in the town. | A Metropolitan Police officer has been convicted of kerb crawling in Ipswich six months after five prostitutes were killed in the town. |
| Det Sgt Mark Daniel was seen with a prostitute in an unmarked police car in the Suffolk town's red light district on 10 June. | Det Sgt Mark Daniel was seen with a prostitute in an unmarked police car in the Suffolk town's red light district on 10 June. |
| Daniel, 34, of Brantham, near Ipswich, was standing trial at Ipswich Magistrates' Court. | Daniel, 34, of Brantham, near Ipswich, was standing trial at Ipswich Magistrates' Court. |
| The police officer was found guilty of one charge of soliciting a prostitute. | The police officer was found guilty of one charge of soliciting a prostitute. |
| Ian Pells, prosecuting, said the case revolved around a "moment of silliness" as Daniel had enjoyed a "hitherto good reputation in his career". | Ian Pells, prosecuting, said the case revolved around a "moment of silliness" as Daniel had enjoyed a "hitherto good reputation in his career". |
| 'Hygiene freak' | 'Hygiene freak' |
| Prostitute Donna Drewry told the court Daniel said to her: "I will give you £20 and we will see what happens from there." | Prostitute Donna Drewry told the court Daniel said to her: "I will give you £20 and we will see what happens from there." |
| But undercover police arrived before anything happened between the pair, she said. | But undercover police arrived before anything happened between the pair, she said. |
| When questioned, Daniel told officers he initially went into Ipswich to fill his car with diesel, before going to look for potential properties to buy in the red light district. | When questioned, Daniel told officers he initially went into Ipswich to fill his car with diesel, before going to look for potential properties to buy in the red light district. |
| He claimed he was approached by Ms Drewry and decided to ask her to help him find a burger van as he was feeling hungry. | He claimed he was approached by Ms Drewry and decided to ask her to help him find a burger van as he was feeling hungry. |
| Daniel, who previously worked in the vice squad in Islington, north London, denied soliciting the prostitute and said it would be against his "moral beliefs" to do so. | Daniel, who previously worked in the vice squad in Islington, north London, denied soliciting the prostitute and said it would be against his "moral beliefs" to do so. |
| He also described himself as a "hygiene freak" and said Ms Drewry had smelt "quite unclean". | He also described himself as a "hygiene freak" and said Ms Drewry had smelt "quite unclean". |
| 'Manifestly implausible' | 'Manifestly implausible' |
| The married father of two young children refuted Ms Drewry's claims that he asked her for sex and added: "I certainly wouldn't risk my livelihood for something like this." | The married father of two young children refuted Ms Drewry's claims that he asked her for sex and added: "I certainly wouldn't risk my livelihood for something like this." |
| Ian Pells, prosecuting, described Daniel's explanation of his actions as "manifestly implausible". | Ian Pells, prosecuting, described Daniel's explanation of his actions as "manifestly implausible". |
| He said increased police patrols had been set up in the red light area following the death of five prostitutes in December. | He said increased police patrols had been set up in the red light area following the death of five prostitutes in December. |
| Tom Nicholson, defending, said it was likely Daniel would be dismissed from his job. | Tom Nicholson, defending, said it was likely Daniel would be dismissed from his job. |
| He said he also faced a legal bill of £3,500 as a result of contesting the case. | He said he also faced a legal bill of £3,500 as a result of contesting the case. |
| Daniel was fined £235 and ordered to pay £450 costs. | Daniel was fined £235 and ordered to pay £450 costs. |
| A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, disciplinary aspects will be considered." | |
| Daniel left court without commenting. |