THE former wife of a high-flying police officer told how he gave her a stolen hi-fi unit in a bin liner and covered in fingerprint dust for her birthday.

Kim O'Byrne-Leonard, herself a former police officer, said she still regarded it as a romantic present because her husband never usually bothered.

But Leeds Crown Court heard that the hi-fi had been recovered by Detective Inspector Neil O'Byrne when a gang of notorious burglars were arrested.

John Aitken, prosecuting, said Det Insp O'Byrne "couldn't be bothered" with the paperwork so the burglars were never prosecuted.

He said Det Insp O'Byrne then disposed of the hi-fi by giving it to his wife as a present and forged a document suggesting it had been returned to the rightful owner.

The jury has heard how Det Insp O'Byrne, 41, has three commendations during his years with the Metropolitan and Cleveland police forces.

He helped bring murderers and rapists to justice, and policed the Broadwater Farm riots in London.

His success led to rapid promotion through the ranks and he became a detective inspector by his mid-thirties and was appointed the staff officer to the Cleveland Chief Constable, Barry Shaw.

But, said Mr Aitken, Det Insp O'Byrne was in fact a "thoroughly dishonest police officer".

"The case file was the responsibility of Mr O'Byrne and we say he simply could not be bothered with the paperwork. He completely disregarded his duty to the public,'' said Mr Aitken.

"These offenders were not prosecuted or cautioned. They were, in effect, let off, allowed out the back door."

Det Insp O'Byrne, 41, of Guisborough, east Cleveland, denies to two charges of theft, two charges of forgery, one of misconduct in a public office, and one of unlawful disclosure.

The case continues.