by John Elworthy
Former Cambridgeshire police officer Mark Coteman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including supplying class C drugs and committing fraud. Coteman, who once earned commendation for his bravery, faced sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court on July 8.
The charges against Coteman included offering steroids to associates, misusing a police computer system to access incident information for unauthorized individuals, and falsely representing his financial status to benefit from an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) designed to manage debts.
His actions were uncovered during an investigation led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, while the Anti-Corruption Units of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire played key roles in the case.
Coteman was dismissed from the police force without notice on May 14, following a special case hearing that determined he had committed gross misconduct. He was found to have violated professional standards related to integrity, respect, and proper conduct.
Chief Constable Nick Dean emphasized the breach of public trust caused by Coteman’s actions, stating, “Any officer committing a criminal offence clearly dents public trust, both locally and across the police service.” He highlighted the deliberate nature of Coteman’s misconduct, asserting that there is no place in policing for such behaviour.
Ironically, Coteman had been recognized for his quick thinking and bravery just three years earlier, when he helped save a man threatening self-harm at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
