A THIEVING ex-copper has been jailed for the second time in five months after more light-fingered acts came to light.

Former Plumstead police officer Ian Scouler was exposed as a "bad apple" of the Met and sentenced to 12 months in prison last November after being snapped pocketing £400 during a police search.

The 47-year-old, of Borough Green, was released early from prison in February but now faces life behind bars again after being bullied by inmates during his first stint in jail.

The father-of-two stole an iPhone during a police search on October 28 2010 and a Blackberry that had been handed in to lost property at Eltham police station on May 28 2010 - before selling the two handsets online.

He was sentenced to a total of 30 months in prison at Westminster Court on March 28 after pleading guilty to two counts of theft.

The fresh corruption only emerged last year after the owner of the raided premises asked for his iPhone to be returned and it was traced to Scouler’s online phone bank account.

Scouler initially denied stealing the iPhone and said a colleague had given it to him - casting suspicion on 16 other police officers in his team - and claimed he could not remember where the Blackberry came from.

He only admitted the charges - which surfaced before his trial for stealing Met cash left as bait in a sting operation - after all his co-workers had been interviewed.

Defending, Rebecca Smith argued the policeman-of-22-years was of previous good character, suffering "disillusionment" at the time and a custodial sentence would subject him to problems in prison as a former policeman.

Ms Smith said: "He was a man of good character and unblemished record to that time.

"He had problems at home and feelings of disillusionment. His state of mind wasn’t what it should have been.

"It was opportunistic, it wasn’t sophisticated.

"In an interview he said he was absolutely stupid.

"As part of the greater fall as a police officer, he had to be moved six or seven times in custody because of being recognised."

She added that Scouler realises he brought problems in prison on himself but it should be taken into account.