From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] FOUR POLICE IN COURT ON GUNS SCHEME FRAUD CHARGES 011621 JUN 00 By Mark Wilkinson, PA News Four police officers today appeared in court in connection with an alleged fraud involving the guns compensation scheme which followed the Dunblane massacre. Pc Michael Cooper, 52, of Hazel Court, Dronfield; Pc William Naom Lander, 49, of Dunston Road, Chesterfield; Pc Geoffrey Edward Johnstone, 49, of Cubley Rise, Penistone; and Pc David Pendriss, 40, of Honeywell Place, Honeywell, Barnsley, who are all officers with the South Yorkshire force, appeared before Sheffield magistrates charged with a variety of offences. Cooper is charged with furnishing false information, Lander is charged with eight counts of furnishing false information, Johnstone is charged with four counts of forgery, four of false accounting, theft and possessing a firearm without a licence. Pendriss is charged with three counts of false accounting. Four other people, David Charles Boothby, 52, of Dalton Magna, Rotherham; James Stewart Brown, 51, of Calner Croft, Sheffield; Ian Keith Leedham, 42, of Taverner Close, Sheffield; and Glenn Gerald Smith, 31, of Jackson Street, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, also appeared before the court. Boothby is charged with two counts of false accounting, Brown with one count of false accounting, Leedham with four counts of false accounting and five of furnishing false information and Smith with counts of false accounting. The cases were adjourned until September 6 for committal papers to be prepared, and all eight were granted unconditional bail. The prosecutions follow a lengthy investigation, begun in November 1997, into alleged irregularities with the compensation scheme, for large calibre handguns in South Yorkshire. Thirteen South Yorkshire police personnel, 11 officers and two civilian staff, have been suspended since the inquiry began. Two police officers and a member of the support staff have since been reinstated. Gun owners had until September 1997 to hand over large calibre handguns, ammunition and associated equipment under the compensation scheme launched after Dunblane tragedy in Scotland in which killed 16 children and their teacher were killed by gunman Thomas Hamilton who then shot himself dead. Under the terms of the scheme, police received the guns and processed the claims which were then transferred to the Home Office for the final compensation pay-out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There were rumours of an officer being suspended in Norfolk but I can't confirm it. Kenneth Pantling Whatever happens they have got The Maxim Gun, and we have not. -- And let's see if the magistrate says that PC Johnstone has got to go to Crown Court to be sentenced because a year in prison is not enough for illegal possession. I won't hold my breath. Steve. -------[Cybershooters contacts]-------- Editor: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website & subscription info: www.cybershooters.org
