A DETECTIVE who was found guilty of fraud after cheating on her council tax has been dismissed without notice by the police.

DC Karen Colbran of the Sussex criminal investigation department (CID) defrauded over £3,000 over the course of a decade after telling the council she lived alone when she lived with her partner.

She pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury on February 11 following a three-day trial.

Colbran, who was described by her colleagues as bold, professional and tenacious was found guilty with the jury taking less than half an hour to decide when she was convicted of council tax fraud. She will be sentenced on March 25.

The Sussex Police detective, originally from Kirkcaldy in Fife, applied for a backdated single person discount on her council tax in 2008 and kept on claiming for ten years. In total, she claimed £3,255.27 in discounted bills.

Colbran filled in police vetting forms declaring her partner Paul McCloud had lived with her at her home address in Hailsham since 2007.

She told the court she thought council tax fraud was a civil matter despite being interviewed under caution.

She said in court: "I just thought I had forgotten to tell them. I know I'm a serving police officer. I thought council tax would be civil. I didn't realise it was going to come as far as this."

The Argus: Colbran attended Lewes Crown Court on February 11Colbran attended Lewes Crown Court on February 11

Colbran faced an allegation of breaching standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct in relation to being convicted of a criminal offence.

The allegation against Colbran was found to be proven by Chief Constable Jo Shiner, with a decision that she be dismissed at a misconduct hearing at Sussex Police headquarters in Church Lane, Lewes.

Chief Con Jo Shiner said: "We expect our officers to act with the utmost integrity, and in accordance with the force’s values, the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

“The actions of this officer fell short of that and in accordance with the College of Policing guidance, she has been dismissed without notice.”