A former police constable accused of stealing a Rolex watch during a search operation has admitted to a jury that he stole £60,000 from his colleagues.

Kevin Scott Williams, 51, who resigned from the force in February after a career dating back to 1992, denies one count of theft relating to a £6,750 watch.

But as he took the stand on the third day of his trial at the Court of General Gaol Delivery, it was revealed for the first time that he had pleaded guilty on February 5 this year to stealing £60,000 from the Isle of Man Police Federation between 2011 and 2017.

The defendant told the jury: ’I am happy for everybody to know that I have admitted to those matters. It’s nowhere near as straightforward as made out.

’There were serious errors for whatever reason and I wish to atone for them. I’m perfectly prepared to accept the consequences of what I have done.’

But he added: ’That does not mean in relation to these matters that I’m automatically guilty.

’I cannot and will not admit to any offences I have not committed.’

Prosecutor James Robinson said: ’You stole a huge sum of money from your colleagues and you hid it for years.

’Despite six years of dishonest actions, six years of hiding what you were doing, you say you were an honest man who acted honestly?’

’I believe I’m a honest man,’ he replied.

Mr Williams, of Port-e-Chee Avenue, Douglas, had been secretary and then chairman of the Isle of Man Police Federation with an office at Willaston police station.

Earlier, the former PC was asked whether he had stolen the watch from properties that were being searched as part of a joint operation in 2015. He replied: ’Absolutely not.’

Asked if he had any role in the physical search of the premises, the defendant said: ’None whatsoever.’

The court heard that police had carried out a joint operation with the UK’s National Crime Agency and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in March 2015.

Constable 187 Williams was given the role of planning and logistics officer for the operation, which was codenamed Braid.

Among the premises searched was the then home address of businessman Paul Bell and an industrial unit linked to him on the Middle Farm industrial estate in Braddan.

In September 2017, Constable Williams’ office at police headquarters was searched ’in relation to an unrelated matter’, the jury was told.

In his black messenger bag, an envelope was found containing a silver Rolex watch, valued at £6,750. It was established the watch belonged to Mr Bell.

Mr Williams, who until his suspension was lead police search adviser for the Manx constabulary, told the jury Operation Braid was ’probably the largest search operation the island has ever seen’.

In total six premises were searched. The defendant recalled three occasions when he attended the Manor Park address but said he could not recall exactly when as he had not been able to have access to his policy log.

He said he may have entered search premises alone but there were always other officers inside including the search teams.

When interviewed after his arrest, he insisted he had discovered the watch in a prop bag at Willaston police station a week before it was found in his office.

He said he had taken it to police headquarters with the intention of asking members of the search team about it.

The trial continues.