Matthew Littlefair, aged 37, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on 8 September 2022 for a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing.

He had been sentenced to two years and three months in prison in November 2021 after admitting a charge of fraud by false representation. The charge related to the former police constable fraudulently claiming to be unfit for work between October 2017 and July 2020.

His offending was uncovered through an investigation by Dorset Police’s Counter Corruption Unit.

Littlefair resigned from the Force prior to the sentencing and following internal misconduct proceedings he was also found guilty of gross misconduct and it was ruled that if he had still been a serving officer, he would have been dismissed.

During the POCA proceedings, the court ruled that the total benefit figure from Littlefair’s offending amounted to £111,226.56. The available amount was found to be £131,216, a sum that included the value of the defendant’s home, which he then sold so the full amount could be repaid.

Detective Constable Scott Brimicombe, of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “Matthew Littlefair’s offending saw him fraudulently claiming his publicly funded salary for a significant period of time while he was claiming to be unfit for work.

“We are determined to use the legislation available to us under the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure that wherever possible offenders are forced to repay the funds they have obtained through fraudulent means.”

Superintendent Paul Kessell, Dorset Police’s Head of Professional Standards said: “This was a totally unacceptable crime that in no way represents the ethics of the police service or the thousands of hard working staff and officers who protect the public every day. We fully support the court’s decision and ruling.”