A TOP cop accused of stealing £56 worth of goods from Tesco has appeared in court.

John Mauger, an assistant chief constable at Police Scotland, was stopped by security guards as he left Tesco, in Highwoods, Colchester.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday he had been observed pushing a shopping trolley around the supermarket at about 4.15pm on March 15.

Prosecutor Tamzin Sharp told the court Mauger was seen putting items into the trolley as well as into his coat pockets.

He is then said to have used the self-service checkout and paid for £6.53 worth of items. But as he tried to leave the store, Mrs Sharp said store theft alarms went off.

When he was searched, the court heard he was found with three beef joints, a torch, face cream and sun cream which staff believe he had not paid for. Police were called to the store and Mauger, who lives in Nayland Road, Great Horkesley was arrested.

Mrs Sharp added while Mauger was detained in the superstore, he appeared “agitated and confused”.

The 54-year-old, who is suspended from duty at Police Scotland, began his policing career with the Met Police in 1983, before transferring to Essex Police as a superintendent.

During his time with the Essex force, he worked as District Commander in Rayleigh and in west Essex. He was also a counter-terrorism, public order and sporting events commander.

During yesterday’s five-minute hearing, he did not enter a plea to a charge of low value shop theft totalling £56.83.

He declined for the case to be heard by magistrates.

Mauger will next appear at Ipswich Crown Court in June.

The dad-of-two has been officially suspended by the Scottish Police Authority.

He previously spent three years on paid leave after a dispute with the now defunct Central Scotland Police, but the accusations against him were discharged last year.

Mr Mauger later returned to work at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan.

The authority has not commented on the current case.