Met Police Officer Jailed for Stealing from Dead Italian Filmmaker
A Metropolitan Police officer has been locked up for 16 months after stealing £115 from the wallet of Italian filmmaker Claudio Gaetani, who tragically collapsed and died in the streets of London.
Filmmaker Dies En Route to Theatre Festival
Claudio Gaetani, 45, was cycling to meet friends for a Southbank Centre theatre festival when he suddenly collapsed and passed away. PC Craig Carter, a 23-year veteran of the Met’s North Area Command Unit, was handling Gaetani’s belongings after his death—and shockingly stole money from his wallet.
Theft Sparked Outrage Among Friends and Community
The crime was uncovered when a friend collected Gaetani’s personal effects and found the cash missing. The friend told The Mirror, “I think it is really disrespectful. I was really, really upset.”
Wood Green Crown Court heard Judge Kalyani Kaul KC condemn Carter’s behaviour, saying: “You threw away your career, family and community trust. You let down your force, you let down your community.”
Dismissed and Condemned by Crown Prosecution Service
Carter was sacked without notice after an internal probe revealed the theft. Crown Prosecution Service’s Tetteh Turkson slammed Carter’s crime, saying he fell “woefully short” of public expectations of a police officer. He added, “Stealing from a victim who had passed away is not only disturbing but deeply disrespectful to the family. Our thoughts remain with them.”
Carter pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 months behind bars for the appalling breach of trust.
