A HERO ex-cop who became a villain has been jailed for "moonlighting" as a private firearms consultant and charging for advice he should have given free.

Paul Duffield, 55, of Oulston Road, Easingwold, was once a respected North Yorkshire Police officer who met the Prime Minister due to his bravery on duty, and also holds a world record for speed shooting and was on the verge of a GB Olympic place.

He was handed a 10-month jail term today by a judge at Teesside Crown Court who told him: "Corruption is a creeping cancer."

Duffield hatched a scam to charge two upmarket hotels for advice on safe storage of shotguns they held for guests who liked to go grouse shooting on the North Yorkshire Moors.

It was advice that Duffield, in his role as North Yorkshire Police's firearms inquiry officer, should have dispensed for nothing.

But he sent invoices to the Feversham Arms and Black Swan hotels, both in the market town of Helmsley for £330 and £393 respectively and charged VAT despite not being registered.

His superiors became aware and arrested him on suspicion of fraud. Whilst searching his home in the village of Easingwold, North Yorkshire, they found illegally held powerful air rifles and bullets.

It was a spectacular fall from grace for Duffield, who had once won a coveted Police Bravery Award.

He and colleague Paul Long were lauded as "Super Cops" in local newspapers after saving the life of a knife-wielding man and putting their own lives on the line at the same time.

Duffield and PC Long were working for Scarborough police when they confronted the distraught youth, who was spotted walking into the sea by a member of the public.

They persuaded the man, who had stabbed himself three times with a carving knife, to drop the weapon and carried him into the arms of waiting paramedics.

Despite suffering a punctured lung and lacerated liver, the victim survived and made a full recovery.

Duffield was presented with a Police Bravery Award at 10 Downing Street after meeting the then PM Tony Blair in April 2002.

He retired from the force in 2013 but was immediately taken on in a civilian, but uniformed, role as the FOE.

But Teesside Crown Court heard that his reputation - which had seen a previous commendation by Selby magistrates in 1992 - was destroyed by his actions in March 2017.

Prosecutor Dan Cordey told the court: "The defendant was effectively moonlighting. He attended the hotels whilst on leave and not wearing his uniform, but handed over his North Yorkshire police business card.

"He inspected both hotels and gave advice on the safe storage of firearms.

"Both are popular with guests who stay whilst attended shooting parties and the hotels have safe storage rooms where shotguns, firearms and the like can be kept.

"He inspected those rooms and later raised invoices for £330 and £393, one of which was paid. This was advice that he should have given free in his role as the Firearms Enquiry Officer.

"He was later arrested on suspicion of fraud."

Duffield admitted two counts of misconduct in public office and possession of two powerful air rifles and ammunition which were not listed on his legally held fire arms licence.

James Gelsthorpe, mitigating, said Duffield's relationship had broken up, he was in financial difficulties and had developed a drink problem.

He told the court: "In the context of this defendant's record with North Yorkshire Police may properly be viewed as an aberration on his part rather than symptomatic of dishonesty or disreputable conduct.

"He received a police bravery award in 2002 and a Chief Constable's commendation. I am told he received that award for this conduct at 10 Downing Street which is perhaps indicative of his bravery.

"He is a man who through no one's actions but his own has suffered a shattering fall from grace. He has lost his good name, his employment, his firearms and shotgun licence which are a central part of his life.

"At one point he was on the verge of joining the Great Britain team at the Seoul Olympics and he still holds a world record in relation to speed shooting.

"Through his actions he has brought discredit upon himself, the police and his family."

Jailing Duffield, Judge Sean Morris told him: "You attended these premises on leave days and arranged for private payment for your inspections.

"The most you could have gained was around £800, you actually made £300-£400 altogether - but that was a corrupt practice.

"Corruption is like a creeping cancer. It may have small beginnings but it can rapidly spread. Fortunately in your case it was arrested - literally - before it could go any further."

He added: "This is misconduct in a public office and the fact of the matter is that the honesty and integrity of officials, especially the police, is crucial to public trust and essential to the social fabric and economic welfare of this country.

"If the public cannot trust the police and those who work for them, that will break down."

North Yorkshire Police said that at the time of the offences, Duffield was employed as a firearms inquiry officer in the force, which was a civilian post.

"The allegations against him came to light in April 2017, and Duffield was suspended from duty," said a force spokesperson.

"North Yorkshire Police mounted an investigation and in May 2017 he was arrested. In January 2018 he resigned from the force.

"This is the first and only time that a firearms inquiry officer at North Yorkshire Police has ever been charged with these offences.

"Nevertheless, North Yorkshire Police has undertaken a root-and-branch review of the whole firearms department to ensure the tightest possible controls are in place."

Assistant Chief Constable Amanda Oliver said:“Paul Duffield worked for the police service. He should have acted with integrity, yet he broke the law. He has abused the public’s trust, and done a grave dis-service to his police colleagues who perform their duties with the commitment and responsibility that the public has a right to expect.

“He must now face up to the consequences of his criminal actions.

“I would like to reassure the public that we have done everything possible to ensure that such activity cannot happen again. And I would like to thank everyone involved in this investigation, for the prompt and decisive action they took in bringing this offender to justice, once his activities were known.”