ANDREW Clark will be feeling very embarrassed today. As a PCSO, he was a pillar of the community. His job was, it goes without saying, to uphold the law.

In that sense, by stealing from a supermarket, he has obviously failed.

And, as his lawyer said in court, it is a mistake that has cost him his job and seen him snubbed.

But what is most baffling about this case is why he did it.

There does not seem to be any answer.

Indeed, he even paid for some goods at the checkout.

There is, it seems, something essentially mysterious about what people get up to.

Yet this is a clear case of nobody being above the law.

If our public servants – those who are supposed to maintain order – are not acting within the law, we need to act.

Failure to do so would put us in the category of the banana republics.

So it is heartening in a sense that the justice system in this case has been seen to act – and act swiftly.

It will be small consolation for Mr Clark as he tries to rebuild his life.

But he of all people should not be surprised by the consequences of his actions.