Suspended Suffolk police officer Andrew Bedding, of Ipswich, set for Chelmsford Crown Court after coercive control and theft charges

A suspended Suffolk police officer has denied coercive control and theft during his first court hearing.

Appearing before Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday was Andrew Bedding, 28, of Ipswich.

He pleaded not guilty to three counts of coercive control and one count of theft relating to incidents in Essex.

Regarding the accusations of coercive control, the first count was allegedly in Witham between January 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019; the second from February 1, 2019, in Braintree; and the third from April 1, 2022, in Halstead.

He was also charged with one count of theft after an incident in Basildon on February 1, 2022.

Bedding has been bailed and is set to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on May 2.

Bedding has been suspended from duty.