Former Herts police officer jailed for theft

Marcin Zielinski stole underwear from a property while he was carrying search in September 2024

Author: Lizzie CouttsPublished 19th Aug 2025

A former Hertfordshire police officer who admitted theft has been sentenced to four months in prison.

Marcin Zielinski, aged 27, from Shefford, Bedfordshire, was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday (Monday 18 August).

At an earlier hearing (Monday 4 August) he admitted one charge of theft and a charge of corrupt/improper exercise of police powers and privileges by a constable.

The court heard how Marcin stole an item of underwear from a property when he was carrying out a Section 32 search at a home on 12 September 2024.

A woman living at the address had been arrested in connection with an unrelated matter and was later released with no further action taken.

Zielinski resigned from the force while under investigation in November 2024.

Hertfordshire Constabulary Assistant Chief Constable Genna Telfer said: “Zielinski has let down the public of Hertfordshire, the police service as a whole and his former colleagues, who act with professionalism and integrity.

“His criminal behaviour damages the reputation of policing and represents a fundamental betrayal of the public and the values for which the police service stands."

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