Police officer faces sack after admitting to using grieving family's cable TV to order porn

A police officer who admitted to using a grieving family's cable television account to order porn is facing the sack.

PC Avi Maharaj was called to the property in south London in February 2018 following the death of a child.

After the homeowner left the house Maharaj used the family's account to make the £25.96 purchase as he waited for the undertaker.

The 44-year-old , who was based in Earlsfield with London's Metropolitan Police, was the only person in the house at the time.

An investigation by the Independent Office of Police Complaints (IOPC) found he may have falsified his attendance log to cover his actions.

Maharaj pleaded guilty to one count of fraud at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this week. He is due to be sentenced on August 6.

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.

"Our investigation showed that Pc Maharaj was the only person in the property who could have downloaded access to pornographic channels at the time the account was accessed. Today he has admitted his guilt under the weight of compelling evidence. I am sorry that the family involved had to deal with this while also coping with the tragic loss of their child."

A misconduct hearing - which could spell the end of Maharaj's career - will be scheduled after sentence.

Press Association