Former Plymouth police officer who stole from colleagues' lockers given suspended sentence
Chloe Henderson admitted misconduct in a public office and three thefts
A former police officer who stole personal belongings from colleagues' lockers at a Plymouth police station has been given a suspended sentence.
Chloe Henderson, 29, committed four offences while working as a constable with Devon and Cornwall Police at Charles Cross station.
Taunton Crown Court, sitting in Worle, heard she was caught when she was passed a handbag containing cash and a power bank, which had been handed in as lost property by a member of the public.
The former firefighter did not log the items, and they were later discovered in her police vehicle, her locker and her home.
Henderson later pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and three counts of theft.
The thefts related to a bottle of Ghost perfume, a pair of GHD hair straighteners and two Coronation Medals.
Judge Anna Richardson sentenced her to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered her to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Henderson must also pay £108 in compensation for the stolen hair straighteners, a victim surcharge and £1,000 in prosecution costs.
Judge Richardson said: "You joined Devon and Cornwall Police in 2021. You were then posted to Charles Cross police station in Plymouth.
"Between 2022 and 2023, you stole items from your colleagues – a perfume bottle and hair straighteners.
"Because items were going missing from your colleagues' lockers, it was decided that a test would be run to see how you responded.
"On May 21 2025, a lost handbag was handed in to you while you were on duty. It was found in your vehicle and the cash and power bank had been taken from it.
"When you were arrested at your home address and your address was searched, the money from the handbag was found on your table. The perfume was recovered.
"When your locker at the police station was searched, the power bank and hair straighteners were recovered.
"Also found were two King's Coronation Medals."
The judge said the medals were given to people who had served in the police for five years, which Henderson had not, to mark the coronation of Charles in 2023.
She added: "You stole them from two people who were eligible for them, although it is not known to whom they belonged."
The judge referred to victim personal statements from police officers Henderson stole from, which described how they had lost trust in their colleagues and their sense of security at work.
She said the prison sentence could be suspended because Henderson had no previous convictions and a pre-sentence report gave her a low risk of reoffending.
Rupert Russell, prosecuting, told the court that colleagues believed their personal items would be safe because they were stored in a police station.
He said: "It is corrosive of trust within the police force."
Evie Deans, defending, told the court Henderson was sincerely sorry for her actions and for breaking the trust of others.
Ms Deans said: "The effect that this process has had on her mental health is significant.
"She has lost her employment in the police service, she has lost her friendship circle and relationship, she has lost her home.
"This offending was in a period when she was struggling with a deteriorating relationship and stresses at work.
"She has since tried to rebuild her life."
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said Henderson had resigned after pleading guilty to the four offences.
He said a further five thefts had been ordered to lie on file, and that force misconduct proceedings would follow at a later date.
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson, from the force's professional standards department, said: "As a force we are committed to maintaining the highest levels of trust and confidence within the community and will hold ourselves accountable when appropriate.
"The actions of one former officer do not represent the behaviour and values of the vast majority of our officers who behave to the highest standards day in, day out, both in and out of work."