A Metropolitan police officer has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office after stealing money from a man who had died in the street.

PC Craig Carter, 51, stole £115 from Claudio Gaetani between 7 and 14 September 2022 after he collapsed and died on the street. Gaetani was visiting London at the time.

Carter appeared at Wood Green crown court on Friday to plead guilty to the charge, which stated that he “took for his own use money from a wallet received by him in evidence in relation to a sudden death”.

He spoke to confirm his name and enter a guilty plea.

Judge Daniel Fugallo said: “Mr Carter is obviously a man of previous good character and this is an extremely serious matter. An immediate custodial sentence seems the most likely outcome in this case.

“The reason for adjourning your sentence is to allow the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report … Neither the ordering of the report nor the fact I’m granting you bail should be taken as an indication to the type of sentence you will receive.

“It seems to me the most likely sentence you will receive will be immediate imprisonment, but that is a matter for the sentencing judge.”

Fugallo granted Carter unconditional bail ahead of his sentencing at the same court on 13 September.

Carter was serving as a constable at the time of the offence. He works for the Met’s north area command unit, which covers Enfield and Haringey, but has been suspended from duty.