A FORMER vice-cop who picked up a prostitute in Ipswich's red-light district has told his appeal he was just trying to find something to eat.

A FORMER vice-cop who picked up a prostitute in Ipswich's red-light district has told his appeal he was just trying to find something to eat.

Mark Daniel, a detective sergeant with the Metropolitan Police, was found guilty by South East Suffolk Magistrates of soliciting prostitute Donna Drewry.

Today at his appeal against his conviction Ipswich Crown Court heard that Daniel, 34, of Grimwade Close, Brantham, picked up Miss Drewry in his work's Skoda and drove her to Handford Road Industrial Estate on June 10.

Dad-of-two Daniel told the court Miss Drewry had come towards his car when he was desperate for something to eat, as his fast metabolism meant he needed food every three to four hours or he became sick.

He said she had asked him if he wanted sex and he responded “No, I'm actually looking for a burger.”

Daniel added: “She opened the door to the car and said 'if you let me in I'll show you one'.

“She got in and closed the door all in one movement and I was thinking 'hang on a minute'.

“I started to feel quite nauseous; she'd offered to show me where to get some food.

“I was just thinking food and home.”

Daniel then drove to Hadleigh Industrial Estate with Miss Drewry where the pair were discovered by plain clothes police officers who arrested Daniel.

Daniel told the court: “I can't think of anything that would ever make me want to use the services of a prostitute.”

He said he was happily married and paying for sex was against his moral beliefs.

He also denied asking the officer who arrested him to give him a street caution but admitted saying “do I have to be arrested, couldn't I just be given a warning?”

The appeal continues.