A Westminster police officer who stole cash, a passport and a cheque book from a dead man has been handed a suspended sentence and sacked from the Met.

PC Richard Bent, cousin of former Spurs striker Darren Bent, had previously admitted taking �250 in bank notes from the Pimlico home of Rustam Cihhudy, during the investigation into his sudden death in July.

He also took Mr Cihhudy’s passport, a cheque book and �93 handed to him in a sting by officers.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment, suspended for one year and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work at Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (October 17).

He was also electronically tagged and given a curfew order to remain at home between 8pm and 8am until January 15 2013.

The officer, who was based at Belgravia Police Station at the time of the thefts, was also found guilty of gross misconduct at an internal disciplinary on Tuesday and kicked out of the force.

Commander Allan Gibson, head of the Directorate of Professional Standards, said: “We expect the highest standard of conduct from our officers and this individual clearly fell well below this.

“Therefore it is entirely right that he take full responsibility for his failings.

“His dismissal and criminal conviction sends a clear message to both the public and colleagues that the Metropolitan Police Service will not tolerate such serious professional failings and criminal conduct.”