A grieving father falsely believed his child had been downloading pornography before his death after a police officer fraudulently downloaded adult clips and falsified logs in an attempt to cover his tracks, a court has heard.
Metropolitan Police officer Avi Maharaj, 44, is facing jail time after admitting using a grieving family's cable television account to order the material.
The PC, who was based in Earlsfield, was called to a property in south London in February 2018 following the death of a 14-year-old boy.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard on Tuesday that Maharaj was alone in the house and waiting for the undertaker when he used the family's Virgin Media account to download pornography worth £25.96.
He then falsified attendance logs in an attempt to cover up his actions.
Rose Edwin, prosecuting, told the court of the dead boy's father's distress as "his last impression of his son was that he had been downloading this material".
It was only when the father contacted Virgin Media and was told what time the clips were downloaded that he realised his son could not have been responsible.
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Maharaj's actions were described by defence Edmund Gritt as "completely insensible".
The lawyer added that "without question, his career as a police officer is terminated".
Maharaj pleaded guilty to fraud at the same court on July 16 but his sentencing has now been referred to Southwark Crown Court on a date to be decided.
Speaking when Maharaj was convicted last month, Independent Office for Police Conduct regional director Sal Naseem said: "Pc Maharaj's behaviour was shocking and even more so given he was guarding the property in the absence of the homeowner.
"Not only were his actions deceitful but he caused considerable distress for the family involved who were dealing with the sudden death of a family member.
"I am sorry that the family involved had to deal with this while also coping with the tragic loss of their child."
