A “MONEY-OBSESSED” senior Dorset Police officer claimed thousands of pounds of false expenses from the force in a “systematic” course of gross misconduct, a hearing was told.

Superintendent Michael Rogers even “ripped off his partner” for monetary gain and claimed more than £5,000 of public funds.

He is alleged to have used police vehicles while also claiming £1,200 a year for the wear and tear on his private car which he was therefore obliged to use for business.

Bournemouth Echo:

He is also accused of travelling more than 900 private miles in the force-owned vehicle, and was even pictured carrying a sofa on its roof, and then using a hire vehicle for business use instead of his own car after realising the police cars were tracked.

Further allegations relate to using a hire car for business use when given a company car and “hugely under-declaring his mileage” as well as claiming expenses he had not incurred, namely more than £4,000 for meals.

Denying the allegations, which relate to incidents between 2015 and 2019, Mr Rogers said: “If you micro-examined all of us there would be incongruities.”

It is alleged Rogers claimed more than 400 miles of business use on his company car, despite being on secondment in the Falklands.

His partner paid £50 to the officer for her 500 miles personal use of the vehicle while Rogers was away.

He was meant to pay the force the money, but instead “pocketed” it himself and put 400 miles down as business use.

Prosecuting, Mark Ley-Morgan said: “That shows what this man is about. He is a man who is obsessed with money, claiming everything he can to the point at which he even rips off his partner.”

Rogers also allegedly claimed more than £4,000 in meals from the force over the space of three years.

Mr Ley-Morgan said officers could claim a maximum of £24 for a meal, he did this 16 times in one month.

When asked for proof, Rogers said he threw the receipts away. He later confessed he may have made mistakes in his claims but denies dishonest conduct.

After finishing the scheme which paid Rogers £1,200 a year for the wear and tear on his personal car, the officer was given a company car.

At the time, HMRC were considering introducing a change in tax which would result in Rogers paying more tax for using the car.

As a result, he hired a car and told the force his courtesy car wasn’t available as it was in the garage for 61 days, the hearing was told.

During that time, Rogers’ car was unusable on just three days, Mr Ley-Morgan said, and he even refuelled it on four occasions.

Mr Ley-Morgan added: “People expect police officers to be trustworthy and honest and Rogers has been anything but.

“This behaviour will undermine confidence in the service and gives the service a bad name.”

Rogers, who has since retired from the force, denies the allegations. The hearing continues.