Helen Bailey murder detective charged with stealing £9,000 from a safe

News imageSouth Beds News Agency Det Sgt David SharpeSouth Beds News Agency
David Sharpe was commended for his work on the murder of author Helen Bailey in 2016

A detective praised for his work solving the murder of children's author Helen Bailey has been charged with stealing £9,000 from a police safe.

Det Sgt David Sharpe, 40, a member of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, worked on the murder case in 2016.

He appeared at Cambridge Magistrates' Court earlier charged with two counts of theft from Hertfordshire Constabulary.

He was suspended from duty in March.

The Bedfordshire Police officer is charged with stealing sums of £4,490 and £4,590 from a safe belonging to Hertfordshire Constabulary between 18 December 2018 and 19 March 2019.

News imageSouth Beds News Agency Helen BaileySouth Beds News Agency
Children's author Helen Bailey wrote the Electra Brown series of books

He was suspended from his role when the allegations came to light earlier this year.

He appeared before magistrates who committed the case to Cambridge Crown Court at a date yet to be set.

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The police officer was an inquiry team leader working on the murder of Ms Bailey, whose body was found in July 2016 in a cesspit at the home in Royston, Hertfordshire, she shared with her partner Ian Stewart.

Det Sgt Sharpe, who has been released on unconditional bail, received a commendation for demonstrating the very highest standards of detective work for his role in solving the murder.