At a court hearing, it was revealed that police officers consumed pizzas at a crime scene, unknowingly ordered by the suspects they were attempting to apprehend.
The officers purchased two deep pan pizzas from a delivery boy at a discounted rate after the gang who had ordered them ignored the doorbell.
During the proceedings at the Old Bailey, it emerged that the gang had placed the pizza order from a Hertfordshire residence where they were holding a drug dealer captive back in April.
The victim endured severe physical abuse, being beaten and tied to a chair, and was struck in the face with frying pans.
As part of his harrowing experience, the gang had ordered a Domino’s pizza; however, before the delivery arrived, the victim managed to escape through a window and alerted authorities at a nearby construction site.
When police arrived, they encountered the delivery boy and subsequently ended up ‘eating the evidence’ outside the residence.
The next day, one of the officers discovered the pizza boxes in the trunk of the police vehicle.
‘The pizza box contained the address, along with the time of 5.13pm and a mobile phone number,’ stated prosecutor Sally Meaking-McLeod.
The empty pizza boxes were seized and presented in court as evidence for the jury’s review.
As she opened the case, Ms Meaking-McLeod stated, ‘The police officers present did not recognize the potential significance of this evidence when the delivery man was unable to complete the delivery. Therefore, they decided to buy the pizzas at a reduced price for themselves and consumed them, placing the boxes in the back of a police car.
‘It was only later that the boxes were found in the police vehicle, revealing a phone number on one of them, highlighting that the officers had unknowingly eaten the evidence.’
Testimony in court indicated that the assailants, including Anthony Costello, aged 42, and Darren Barker, aged 35, escaped prior to the arrival of the delivery boy and police.
They are accused of stealing the victim’s $10,000 watch, $400 in cash, his mobile device, and keys for his Mercedes CLK, which was parked outside. The abandoned Mercedes was located in Borehamwood in May.
The assault occurred following arrangements made by a drug dealer identified only as CJ, who suspected the victim was encroaching on his territory in Hertford and Watford. According to the court, Costello claimed that the victim was his crack cocaine and heroin dealer.
Costello, from Baldock, and Barker, from Watford, both deny charges of false imprisonment, robbery, grievous bodily harm, and assault. Additionally, Barker denies theft of the Mercedes and attempting to obstruct justice.
Carl Tomlin, 26, from Peterborough, has admitted to charges of false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm, and taking a vehicle.
The trial is ongoing.
