FALSE expenses claims made by the district's former top police officer were “honest mistakes” made through working long hours at a stressful time a court has heard.

Chief Inspector Jonathan Baldwin, 42, a former Epping Forest District Commander, told Ipswich Crown Court he had never been deceitful with his mileage claims which were described by the prosecution as grossly exaggerated and entirely fictitious.

Asked by prosecution counsel Gregory Perrins how he could have made the false claims, Mr Baldwin replied: “People make mistakes. I don't think it's fair to say there's no room for error. I have acknowledged I didn't complete the paper work at the time properly due to my workload and amount of hours I was doing at the time. I'm ashamed to say I didn't do it as well as I could.”

Mr Baldwin is alleged to have deliberately claimed for a trip to Windsor on December 21, 2007, which never existed.

He is also said to have claimed that a trip he made from Essex to Windsor was 440 miles long, and that one from Essex to Oxford was 400 miles long- distances described by the prosecution as blatantly false.

Mr Baldwin said the trip to Windsor was actually made from his home in Carmarthen, in Wales, and was agreed to by his superior officer Assistant Chief Constable Carmel Napier- something she had previously denied in court.

He admitted he had made a mistake on the Oxford trip, but claimed he had accidentally doubled the figure adding: “It's embarrassing. I was a lecturer in geography.”

Addressing the jury, Mr Perrins said: “We are not suggesting this is necessarily some calculating, devious fraud. This is an example of more casual blatant dishonesty done because he can do.”

He said Mr Baldwin must have known to be careful when claiming travel expenses as, when he was initially promoted to a Chief Inspector position at Essex Police Headquarters, he was aware the previous incumbent Piers Quinnell had been removed from his post for “Underhand use of hired cars and personal cars.”

Mr Baldwin's defence barrister Allan Compton told the jury they could easily dismiss the prosecution's case.

He said: “On the evidence presented to you the prosecution have come nowhere near close to proving you are sure that for no stated reason whatsoever Jonathan Baldwin has begun to steal from Essex Police in the most inept and casual manner possible.

“What motive did Inspector Baldwin have to start suddenly stealing? Was he in severe financial difficulty? No. He had a decent salary and equity in his home in Wales. Look at the risks involved- his whole career and reputation on the line for a few hundred quid.”

Mr Baldwin denies three charges of fraud through false representation.

The jury is set to retire to consider their verdict tomorrow (December 17).