Premier League ace’s cop cousin ‘stole cash from dead’ - Darren Bent helps with police probe

Hero ... Darren on England duty

He said the valuables were a gift from Aston Villa star Darren.

But £65,000-a-week Darren was furious at the claim and has pledged to co-operate fully with a Scotland Yard anti-corruption probe.

Last week he spoke to officers from the Met Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards and is expected to make a full statement.

A source close to the Birmingham-based star said: “Darren will happily give the police his co-operation.”

Another insider said: “He is fuming at being dragged into this mess.

“Darren is from a law-abiding family who, apart from Richard’s job, rarely have dealings with the police.

“Richard is his cousin and friend, but now the allegation has been made it needs sorting out. Richard said Darren gave him the valuables.”

Detectives are investigating a series of high-value thefts from crime victims who passed away.

They are also probing goods stolen from Richard’s police station in Westminster, central London.

Richard — who lives in Wandsworth, South West London — and is said to be fond of designer clothes and watches, was arrested last month and released on bail until October.

The £35,000-a-year policeman is the son of Darren’s aunt Sandra and the two men have been pictured out clubbing together close to the footballer’s family home in Huntingdon, Cambs.

Darren, 28 — who has scored four times in 13 England appearances and played previously for Ipswich Town, Tottenham, Charlton Athletic and Sunderland — revealed last year how a cousin called Richard sparked his interest in US basketball.

He told The Times newspaper: “My cousin Richard was a big basketball fan and I started watching with him.

“It’s in my family. Sharon, my aunt, lives in California and is a big supporter of the LA Lakers and that’s always a source of banter between us.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Officers from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards arrested a male police officer on suspicion of theft from the Metropolitan Police Service on July 13, 2012.

“He was subsequently arrested in connection with a further count of theft. He has been bailed to return on October 10, 2012.

“The arrested officer is a PC based in Westminster.”

Scotland Yard said the officer had been suspended on July 14 and that the investigation into him was being supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

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