A FOMRER Avon and Somerset police officer has denied stealing weapons from the force’s armoury and the illegal possession of firearms.
Richard Rockey, aged 59, of Dornafield Close, Ipplepen, Newton Abbot, pleaded not guilty to seven charges when he appeared before Judge Stephen Climie at Exeter Crown Court.
Rockey denied two counts of possessing prohibited weapons, a Brocock .22 air powered revolver and a Saxby and Palmer .177 gas powered air gun at his home on October 5, 2021.
He also pleaded not guilty to possessing a mini flare kit and 17 cartridges without a certificate on the same date.
The other three charges are all allegations of theft while he was working for the police. He denied theft of an air pistol between July 4, 2019 and October 6 2021; a Hawk air rifle between December 2, 2020 and October 6, 2021, both from Avon and Somerset police, and an ACOG sighting system from Gloucestershire police.
Judge Climie confirmed a trial date of May 20, 2024 and ordered a pre-trial review for April 26, 2024, which will ensure the case is ready for trial. He released Rockey on bail.