A highly regarded police officer is facing trial after being accused of repeatedly stealing items from the same shop including champagne and Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewell tarts.

PC David Howarth, who has served with Norfolk Police for more than 20 years, is also said to have shoplifted meat, bottles of wine, cans of lager, oven chips, toothpaste and dog food.

He was suspended from duty as beat manager for Gorleston, Cobholm and Southtown after the allegations came to light.

Howarth, 46, appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court where he denied five charges of shop theft at a Co-op in Great Yarmouth between March 18 and 30 this year.

His solicitor, James Landles, told the hearing his client didn’t deny taking goods worth £62 without paying.

But he told magistrates Howarth had mental health issues at the time.

His defence would centre around the claim he was suffering from a temporary form of insanity at the time and was not fully responsible for his actions, Mr Landles added.

After the latest hearing, which took place last week, District Judge Matthew Bone said a trial would take place on August 3 next year.

It is expected to include evidence from medical specialists on behalf of the prosecution and defence about the officer’s state of mind at the time of the alleged offences.

Howarth is well-known in his local community, where he was runner-up in a local newspaper’s uniformed hero of the year award in 2022.

Reports about his career in law enforcement have included one in 2017 about how he helped a pensioner with terminal cancer.

Howarth removed loose brick work from the great-grandmother’s garden wall after it was knocked over while she was in hospital.

He also helped arrange for flowers to be donated by a local DIY store to be planted in the 74-year-old widow’s front garden.

Her wall was rebuilt for free with the assistance of the force’s safer neighbourhood team, along with local students and businesses.

Students were also brought in to do her hair for a trip to Guernsey to attend her niece’s wedding.

Two years ago, Howarth was pictured with Year 6 pupils at St Mary and St Peter Catholic Primary School in Gorleston to discuss topics including county lines drug dealing and peer pressure.

The children also got to try on a police uniform and experience what it’s like to be locked in a police van.

Norfolk Police confirmed Howarth had been suspended since April, when they became aware of the alleged shoplifting offences.