An Ely support worker was left feeling “accused and shocked” after police wrongly shared a photo of her in connection with a card theft.

Ely Standard: Katie-Anne Seaman, right, was left feeling “accused and shocked” after police shared a CCTV photo of her in a social media appeal in connection with a card theft. PHOTO Supplied.Katie-Anne Seaman, right, was left feeling “accused and shocked” after police shared a CCTV photo of her in a social media appeal in connection with a card theft. PHOTO Supplied. (Image: Archant)

Katie-Anne Seaman only found out about the incident, which related to an £800 card theft that happened in Angel Drove, Ely on February 9 at about 11.30am, thanks to her friend.

“I got a message from one of my friends with the picture attached to it, asking if it was me,” she said of the CCTV photo, which was posted and shared on the East Cambs police Twitter page.

“I was actually getting money out for someone I support – not stealing it.”

On the same day that the picture was shared, the 24-year-old received a promotion having been with the company for seven months.

“That messed it up a little bit, but luckily my bosses believed me and know I would never do anything like that.

“Having something like that in the newspaper with my type of job, I could have been suspended.

“At first I thought it was a joke, that it might have been photoshopped.

“I was shocked when I realised it was me in the picture. I didn’t know what to think really.”

After being alerted to it yesterday morning, Katie rang the police’s non-emergency number on 101 and told them that it was her in the picture. Despite being upset and concerned, she was “kept on hold for 20 minutes.

“I rang my mum in tears and she rang the police back. They said that they had no recollection of my call; but when she spoke to someone else they said both calls had been logged and that the investigation was closed.”

Katie says she is still waiting to here from the investigating officer.

“I just want it finished now,” she added. “It was just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but all I really want is an apology.”

This isn’t the first time East Cambs police have made a CCTV blunder. In May last year, two Ely teenagers received an apology from police after CCTV images of them were circulated in connection to a theft in a local store – even though they were nothing to do with it. They were also asked to lead a youth forum, which was set up with the aim of improving the relationship between teenagers and police in the area.

A police spokesperson said: “We regularly issue CCTV appeals to help officers as part of their enquiries into various crimes.

“As soon as the lady pictured identified herself to officers we removed the CCTV from social media.”