Metropolitan Police officer PC Chris Carter, 51, has been charged with misconduct in public office for allegedly stealing £170 from Claudio Gaetani, an Italian filmmaker.

Gaetani tragically died in public view on a busy London street after suffering a heart attack while cycling to meet friends, and lay unattended for six hours.

The theft was discovered by Gaetani's host couple when they collected his belongings from the police station.

PC Carter, who resides in Harlow, Essex, has been suspended from duty and is part of the North Area Command Unit covering Enfield and Haringey.

The charge is 'indictable only' and is expected to be dealt with in a crown court, with PC Carter set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The investigation took 17 months, with body camera footage allegedly showing the officer counting the stolen money.

Gaetani's wife expressed distrust in uniformed officers following the incident.

Despite Gaetani's dwarfism, he was described as a cheerful and adventurous person.

The charge of misconduct in public office can carry a life sentence in serious cases.

More details are expected to emerge as the case develops.