A retired Met detective who led the response to the 7/7 terror attacks during a distinguished career was rugby-tackled to the ground after being caught dodging a train fare.
Brian Tarpey, 58, a former detective inspector turned security specialist, used his old warrant card to avoid paying for a £7.40 ticket and tried to run away when he was stopped by anti-corruption officers at Victoria Station.
During his career at Scotland Yard, Tarpey led the investigation into the murder of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko and the initial response to the 2005 London bombings.
Serving Met officers can travel around London for free with their warrant card. Tarpey retired from the force in May 2010 but kept hold of his.
Prosecutor Malachy Pakenham told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that on May 2 rail staff alerted officers at the station that Tarpey “had identified himself at the ticket barrier as a police officer and flashed his warrant card”.
When a professional standards officers spoke to him, he admitted he was not a police officer and did not have a ticket.
Mr Pakenham continued: “The defendant began to run and the police officers gave chase.”
When interviewed, Tarpey, of Ewell, Surrey, said he was rushing for a train and did not have time to buy a ticket.
“I stupidly did what I did to get through the barrier. Yes, I was dishonest and stupid and I knew I had done something wrong,” he said.
He admitted a charge of impersonating a police officer with intent to deceive and train fare evasion, but denied regularly using the warrant card for free travel.
His lawyer Michael Field said: “He is truly remorseful and utterly regrets this moment of panic and says it has simply destroyed him.
"He is a completely broken man that came from the heights to this position here.”
On Friday, District Judge Gary Lucie sentenced Tarpey to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £105 in court costs and fees, as well as the £7.40 ticket fare.
