A POLICEMAN has been jailed for 16 months after selling 10 rare ancient coins he found using a metal detector.

David Cockle, of Carroll Close, Leigh, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court last Wednesday after admitting the theft at a previous hearing in January.

The 50-year-old was working for Norfolk Constabulary when he found the Merovingian Tremissis coins between 2012 and 2015.

He failed to declare the find and sold the coins on to a dealer for about £15,000.

By doing this he breached a contract he had signed with the owner of the Norfolk land where the coins were found, which stated the proceeds of any find would be shared.

Cockle was arrested in November 2015 after information received from a member of the public sparked an investigation by the Norfolk and Suffolk anti-corruption unit.

Some of the coins were traced on foreign auction sites as far afield as Belgium.

Detective constable Dave Irwin, from Norfolk Constabulary’s professional standards department, said: "Public confidence in the police depends on those serving demonstrating the highest level of personal and professional behaviour.

“The officer’s conviction for theft discredits the police service and undermines public confidence.”

As well as the prison sentence Cockle was given a five-year criminal behaviour order banning him from metal detecting by Ipswich Crown Court.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be held on June 26.