A uniformed officer has been accused of stealing £15,000 from seven passengers as they headed off for flights from Gatwick’s North Terminal.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that Alexis Scott, a police community support officer, targeted long-haul passengers and forced them to hand over large sums of cash.
She allegedly took £3,000 from a woman who was travelling to Turkey that was intended to help pay for an operation and a wedding, jurors were told.
She denies seven counts of theft and one of misconduct in public office.
Seven people said they were approached by a female uniformed officer at the departure gate and told they could not take more than £1,000 in cash out of the country, the court was told.
It is alleged that Ms Scott, 39, of High Grove, London, confiscated the rest and put the cash in her hat in April last year.
The £15,000 has never been recovered.
Ms Scott was dismissed from Sussex Police last July.
The trial continues.
