The man who impersonated a Wiltshire police officer has been convicted

A man who stopped a woman on a remote country road in Wiltshire while impersonating a police officer has been given a suspended sentence.

Chris Green, 32, of Nero Place, Peterborough, used a flashing blue light in his car to flag down the driver before informing him he was “driving dangerously”.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard that it was only after he spotted the victim’s young son in the back of the car that he told him he was going to “leave them”.

Green was given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered to complete a 12-month community order involving rehabilitation work.

Green was driving at 30 mph (48 km/h) in a 60 mph (97 km/h) zone in Wiltshire when he overtook him on 6 May 2023.

However, he then overtook her and confronted her, the court was told.

When challenged, Green said he worked for a fictitious undercover crime unit called “The Brotherhood” and could not produce a badge number.

He denied impersonating a police officer but was found guilty in May 2024.

Officers later found a blue LED light inside his car, as well as police-style handcuffs, a dash cam and a baseball bat.

The police were able to track the car because the woman recorded its license plate.

Green admitted to running the blue lights but denied identifying himself to a police officer.

He told magistrates the lights were used for his private security work and he “didn’t intend to cause any distress”.

Sibylle Cheruvier, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court: “This was a completely distressing incident for the victim involved, who was in a vulnerable position as a lone driver.

“I commend the victim for keeping her wits about her and recording Green’s registration number, which allowed police to locate him shortly afterwards.”

She added that impersonating an officer is a “cause for concern for the community.”

“I am very grateful to the victim for his support in this case, without which we would not have been able to prove Green’s intentions,” she said.

“We urge anyone who is unsure whether they have been stopped by a genuine police officer to contact the police immediately.”

Green has indicated that she plans to appeal against her conviction and is due to be heard at Swindon Crown Court in September.