A corrupt police sergeant was jailed for more than six years for a string of crimes that he plotted using data from force computers.

Ben Cooke, 34, stole a safe he thought contained £60,000 and tried to burgle another another property.

He claimed he dumped the safe, which contained cash and personal items, on waste ground but it has never been recovered.

Cooke, of Hirwaun, near Aberdare in south Wales, pleaded guilty to theft, attempted burglary, burglary, securing unauthorised access to computer material with intent to commit an offence and corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges.

Cooke, who had been a police officer for 10 years, discovered that colleagues suspected someone had £60,000 in a safe in their home after using the police computer.

He entered the property into his police uniform while the occupant was in the shower.

Cooke later stole a door key during an investigation into a sudden death and used it to try to enter another property.

He called the force's anti-corruption hotline to confess but claimed he had been blackmailed after sending pictures of himself to another man online.

Jailing for six years and four months, the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said he had made "deliberate, conscious and pre-meditated attempts" to commit offences which were of "harm to South Wales Police and police in general".

Cooke, who had no previous convictions, had "thrown away" his reputation, she added.

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