# Detective Jailed for Stealing £85,000 from Police Evidence Safe Former officer Michelle Reason sentenced after siphoning seized criminal cash for personal expenses. - **Source:** [BBC News – England](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4bc6c668-09a2-41f9-9ab8-bd2747dfb9a9 ## Detective Sentenced for Theft Michelle Kirsty Reason, a 54-year-old former detective, has been sentenced to four years and two months in prison. She pleaded guilty to theft and misconduct in public office at Mansfield Magistrates' and County Court. The conviction follows her admission of stealing over £85,000 while serving as an exhibits officer. ## Exploiting a Position of Trust Reason worked within a specialized team investigating high-level drug gangs in Derbyshire. As an exhibits officer, she held rare access to a secure safe containing hundreds of thousands of pounds in seized criminal assets. She abused this specific authority to systematically siphon off funds starting in January 2022 after a major seizure. ## The Mechanics of the Theft The illicit activity began after Reason handled a cash seizure totaling approximately £350,000. She initially stole £15,000 and, upon realizing the absence went unnoticed, continued taking money regularly until December 2025. She admitted to stealing a total of £87,174.05, alongside smaller amounts of Euros and Albanian lek currency. ## Personal Use of Stolen Funds Investigations revealed that Reason utilized the stolen criminal proceeds to fund a variety of personal expenditures. These included the purchase of a vehicle, financing a holiday, and buying tickets for various events. The misappropriation of these funds directly undermined the integrity of evidence required for ongoing criminal court proceedings. ## Discovery and Subsequent Confession The theft was uncovered when Derbyshire Police began reviewing stored exhibits in preparation for an upcoming court case. Faced with the inevitable discovery of the missing cash, Reason voluntarily attended St Mary's Wharf police station to confess. She provided a full account and surrendered the empty evidence bags used during thefts. ## Institutional Response and Condemnation Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Michelle Shooter condemned the actions as a disgrace to the force. She emphasized that Reason violated both the internal trust of the police organization and the public's expectation of integrity. The force stated that individuals who compromise their professional duties have no place in modern policing. ## Legal Proceedings and Future Actions Following her guilty plea and sentencing, the legal process remains ongoing regarding the recovery of assets. A further hearing is scheduled for 9 April to address the case under the Proceeds of Crime Act. This legislation allows authorities to pursue the recovery of assets gained through illegal criminal activities. ## Broader Impact on Policing This case highlights the vulnerabilities inherent in managing large-scale cash evidence within law enforcement agencies. The incident serves as a significant reminder of the necessity for rigorous oversight and auditing protocols. Maintaining public confidence requires the proactive identification and removal of personnel who exploit their positions for personal financial gain. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c65yny5nv7ywo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._