A JUDGE branded a police community support officer who lied about his insurance after a car crash as “stupid” and “a complete idiot”.

A jury found Daniel Le Moine guilty of using an insurance certificate with intent to deceive.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the 23-year-old produced the document after an accident in February 2008 even though he knew it was not valid.

Le Moine, of Buckfast Avenue, Frinton, subsequently quit as a PCSO, based in Colchester town centre.

Judge Rodger Hayward Smith, sentencing the former PCSO described the act as “a ridiculous, stupid thing to do”.

He said: “He threw everything in jeopardy because of some insurance policy, which he must have known perfectly well was not valid.

“I can’t believe some people can be so stupid. He has thrown away his career, and his good character. He’s a complete idiot.”

During a week-long trial, the court heard Le Moine was dyslexic.

It was claimed this had affected his ability to remember things. He told the jury he believed his car was insured.

However, Richard Kelly, prosecuting, said Direct Line Insurance had repeatedly written and phoned to warn him the policy was not valid.

His lawyer, Jane Oldfield, told the judge Le Moine now planned to study for GCSEs at Clacton Institute. He had also started training as a roofer.

She said: “He’s a young man who has lost a huge amount.

“He has only ever wanted to be a police officer. He has now resigned from the force. His entire community knows what has happened, which has been a source of considerable embarrassment for him and his family.

“He had previously been known as a trustworthy, courteous and honest young man.”

She added he owed £11,500 as a result of the crash because both cars had been written off, and was considering declaring himself bankrupt.

Handing Le Moine a 12-month community order, requiring him to do 120 hours of unpaid work, the judge told him: “I’m not going to send you to prison, as I think you have suffered a good deal already.

“You’re 23. You have no previous convictions.

“You had a job with the police and you’ve thrown it away by an act of incredible stupidity.

“As a result, you have lost your job and you now have a criminal record.

“I don’t know even now whether you realise how stupid you have been.”