A former senior police officer who used his force credit card to buy goods for himself was ordered to pay nearly £100,000 at a confiscation hearing.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Salkeld, 42, who is serving a three-year prison sentence for theft, obtaining property by deception and obtaining a money transfer by deception, was also ordered to pay £5,000 in costs by Maidstone Crown Court.

He used his force credit card to buy goods, including a mini-fridge and a designer watch and must also pay £989.18 to Sussex Police. Salkeld, who resigned from his senior role in the South East Regional Intelligence Unit, also took out a £1,100 grant from the Sussex Police Welfare Fund, which he spent on caravanning equipment.

David Walbank, on behalf of the Crown, said the funds would be taken from Salkeld’s share of the £250,000 house he owns with his wife in Shoreham, West Sussex.

Salkeld was found guilty of 11 counts of theft, obtaining property by deception and obtaining a money transfer by deception. He was cleared of a further five counts of theft and obtaining property by deception.

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