MPS PC faces jail after using grieving family's TV account to buy porn
A Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer is facing prison after admitting buying pornography at the family home of a dead child while he waited for an undertaker to arrive.
PC Avi Maharaj was on duty alone at the South London home on February 11, 2018, when he is understood to have used the family’s Virgin TV account to make four purchases – at least two of which were made while the body of the 14-year-old boy remained in the house – totalling £25.96.
The officer attempted to cover up his actions by falsifying attendance logs, which left the father thinking that his son had been downloading it himself before his death.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how “his last impression of his son” was that he had been accessing the adult material, which prosecutor Rose Edwin said had caused him great distress.
It was only when the father contacted Virgin Media and was told what time the clips were downloaded that he realised his son could not have been responsible. A complaint was made which led to an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem, said: “PC Maharaj’s behaviour was shocking and even more so given he was guarding the property in the absence of the homeowner. 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. I am sorry that the family involved had to deal with this while also coping with the tragic loss of their child.”
PC Maharaj, who pleaded guilty to fraud, was due to be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 6, however, this will now take place at a later date as the case has been transferred to Southwark Crown Court where a custodial sentence is said to be highly likely.
The MPS said misconduct proceedings will take place following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.
