Police officer bribed with food, drinks and holidays to downplay crimes including rape
A police officer who took bribes from venues and security companies to downplay crimes has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
Former Sergeant Frank Partridge, 50, who worked as a licensing officer in Westminster, was sentenced yesterday at Southwark Crown Court after he was convicted of seven counts of bribery.
Police licensing units work with the owners of licensed venues to help prevent crime.
Between September 2013 and June 2015, Partridge from Wing, Buckinghamshire, but now living in Spain, took bribes from four groups of people linked to venues or security companies in the West End.
The bribes included free meals and drinks, tailored suits, tickets to exclusive events, free tickets to concerts and a family holiday to Morocco worth almost £7,000.
In one case, Partridge downplayed two allegations of rape at a nightclub in 2014, a company co-run by Anna Ginandes, 46, previously from Camden but who lives in New York.
Partridge claimed a police investigation had ended with no further action months before it actually did to paint a better view of the venue before a licensing hearing.
The two allegations of rape were investigated but neither case resulted in anyone being charged.
In another example, the trial heard that in January and February 2014, Partridge helped TSS, a security company run by Terry Neil, 56, of Kimbers Drive, Slough, and Soraya Henderson, 57, of Glenmore Close, Flackwell Heath, High Wycombe win a contract.
He put pressure on a venue to employ the company and extra security staff.
In return, Neil gave Partridge a bespoke suit and tickets to high-end London venues and exclusive charity events.
Partridge was dismissed from the Met in April 2016 for gross misconduct after travelling in a first class carriage without the right ticket.
At an earlier hearing, Partridge had pleaded guilty to three counts of bribery between February 2013 and June 2015, he was found guilty of another four counts and acquitted of one count.
Partridge was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison, his convicted co-defendants will be sentenced on September 21.
Ginandes, was found guilty of one count of bribery and acquitted of one count.
A man who can’t be identified and ran a security company was found guilty of one count of bribery.
Neil, was found guilty of one count of bribery and not guilty of another count. Henderson, was found not guilty of two counts of bribery.
Ryan Bishti, 43, owner of the Cirque le Soir nightclub, gave Partridge tickets to see the rock band Metallica and paid for the renovation of his home. He was convicted of one count of bribery.
Met Commander James Harman said: “Partridge’s job was to consult with the local authority about licensing applications and supervise licensed premises to make sure they were complying with their conditions.
“But he developed unprofessional and inappropriately close relationships with people who owned, ran or were linked to those premises as well as with firms providing security to the venues.
“These matters happened almost a decade ago and how we run licensing units in the Met is now very different.”
Pictured top: Frank Partridge (Picture: CPS)