A police officer resigned this week - on the day he was convicted of assisting a benefit fraud.

Sergeant Michael Stephen Crompton, aged 45, of Imman Stronnag, Peel, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the offence and will be sentenced on November 5 after a probation report has been prepared.

Crompton had 20 counts of theft, to which he had previously pleaded not guilty, withdrawn by the prosecution.

A charge of concealing, disguising, transferring or removing the proceeds of crime, which he had also denied, was also withdrawn.

Prosecuting advocate Jason Stanley told the court that Crompton was a police sergeant at the time of the offence in November 2018.

Mr Stanley said that a relative of Crompton had failed to disclose some savings when making a benefit claim which had resulted in an overpayment in benefits of £4,674.

However, Crompton was said to have transferred the savings, an amount of £40,000, to his own account when he discovered this in an effort to hide it.

Mr Stanley said that Crompton had not benefited from the transfer as the money had been repaid to the woman’s estate as she was now dead, and that the case was suitable for sentencing in summary court.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood asked the court to take into account his client’s guilty plea, his co-operation, and the fact that he has no previous convictions.

Magistrates ordered a probation report be prepared before sentencing.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500.

Afterwards, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Dobbie said: ’This investigation has been a difficult one, as it involved a serving police officer.

’It was investigated impartially and independent advice was obtained to ensure the fairness of the investigation.’