He had been a trusted police officer with an exemplary record with the Manx force.

But former police constable Kevin Scott Williams’ fall from grace was complete as he began a two year, eight month jail term for theft.

Willams ’milked’ the funds of the Isle of Man Police Federation, with the £60,000 he stole used, among other things, to buy electronic items and flights for holidays.

Jailing Williams, Deemster Farrell told him: ’The public place great trust in our police officers. You have seriously breached that trust and those of fellow officers whose funds you stole.’

Willams, aged 51, of Port-e-Chee Avenue, Douglas, had served as a police officer for some 25 years and even received a Chief Constable’s commendation.

But as secretary, treasury and chairman of the Isle of Man Police Federation he had sole access to its funds, without any oversight.

Between 2011 and 2017 he withdrew cash and paid cheques from the federation fund into his own personal account.

He also stole a Rolex watch, valued at £6,750, from premises being searched as part of a joint police, HMRC and UK National Crime Agency operation, codenamed Braid, in March 2015.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor said his client had been hospitalised for stress in 2011 and had been diagnosed with PTSD in 2018.

His life had ’spiralled out of control’, he said. ’He has expressed genuine remorse for the theft of money from the Police Federation.’

Mr Taylor said his client had not been living an extravagant lifestyle but he was ’living just that little bit more beyond his means’.

Williams was jailed for 24 months for the theft from the Isle of Man Police Federation and a further eight months for the watch theft, making a total of two years and eight months.

He was ordered to pay £60,000 compensation to the Police Federation from funds held by the court that had been subject to a restraining order.

Deemster Farrell told him: ’It is indeed tragic that you stand here today.

’Not only will you serve a sentence but you may well lose your police pension built up over many years.’

A statement read out in court on behalf of the Isle of Man Police Federation, said: ’The actions of Mr Williams caused a great deal of anger. This caused reputational damaged and upset a larger number of retired colleagues, some of whom are quite elderly.

’At times the fund dwindled to critical levels and we struggled to support members.’

Superintendent Stephen Maddocks, the senior investigating officer, said: ’Mr Williams, who was a serving police officer at that time, abused his position of trust in the most appalling way.

’Mr Williams’s behaviour may have affected how some people view the constabulary but it is really important to note that these matters were unearthed by hardworking and dedicated police officers who were determined to bring this criminal to justice.’

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson said: ’Today’s sentencing follows a long and complex investigation into a former serving police officer for serious offences of dishonesty perpetrated over a long period of time.

’The prosecution, conviction and custodial sentence that has been passed down to Mr Williams shows such actions will not be tolerated, especially where they undermine the significant trust that the public should rightly be able to place in those who enforce our laws.

’I hope the prosecution of Mr Williams for his actions will maintain the public confidence that individuals breaching the high levels of trust placed in them will be investigated and prosecuted.’