Bogus police officer took youths' shoes

A man who posed as a police officer to force teenagers to hand over their shoes has been spared a jail sentence.

Dean Lefevre, 30, from Battle, East Sussex, told three youths they fitted the description of someone sought for assault, Lewes Crown Court heard.

Lefevre, who admitted committing fraud and criminal deception, said he needed their trainers for forensic tests.



In a raid on his home, they seized 35 pairs of trainers in different sizes, two boxes of police cordon tape, handcuffs, belt attachments, a police dog handler badge and a Sussex Police badge. In addition, police also recovered a notebook making reference to surrendering trainers.

Rhodri James, defending, said Lefevre did not suffer from any diagnosed mental illness but clearly he was in need of some help. "It's safe to assert that he wasn't trying to gain the trainers for himself and really there is no explanation as to why he did it," he said.

Lefevre was also given an 18-month supervision order, 120 hours unpaid work, told his police equipment would be destroyed, and ordered to pay £150 costs.