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'Triple sickie' policeman sacked over horse racing trips | 'Triple sickie' policeman sacked over horse racing trips |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A police officer who threw a "sickie" three times to watch horse racing has been sacked after being found guilty of gross misconduct. | A police officer who threw a "sickie" three times to watch horse racing has been sacked after being found guilty of gross misconduct. |
PC Jonathan Adams, of Ross-on-Wye, went twice to Nottingham Racecourse and to Royal Ascot where he was seen celebrating a win on television. | |
The officer said the trips were "therapeutic" to deal with a "toxic" work environment. | The officer said the trips were "therapeutic" to deal with a "toxic" work environment. |
A disciplinary hearing concluded PC Adams was "not as sick as he claimed". | A disciplinary hearing concluded PC Adams was "not as sick as he claimed". |
PC Adams, an officer at Gloucester's Barton Street station, part-owned a horse with a racing syndicate. | PC Adams, an officer at Gloucester's Barton Street station, part-owned a horse with a racing syndicate. |
The panel was told that in September 2015 and April 2016 he had reported in sick and went to Nottingham racecourse to watch the horse he part-owned, named Little Lady Katy. | The panel was told that in September 2015 and April 2016 he had reported in sick and went to Nottingham racecourse to watch the horse he part-owned, named Little Lady Katy. |
In June 2016 he reported in sick again and went to Royal Ascot to watch Quiet Reflection, another horse owned by his syndicate, win the Commonwealth Cup. | In June 2016 he reported in sick again and went to Royal Ascot to watch Quiet Reflection, another horse owned by his syndicate, win the Commonwealth Cup. |
The misconduct panel was shown a television clip of PC Adams jumping around and celebrating. | The misconduct panel was shown a television clip of PC Adams jumping around and celebrating. |
'Struggling' | 'Struggling' |
Stephen Morley, presenting the case for the force, told the hearing: "In a nutshell, on three occasions he deliberately reported sick in order to go to the horse races. | Stephen Morley, presenting the case for the force, told the hearing: "In a nutshell, on three occasions he deliberately reported sick in order to go to the horse races. |
"We do not accept he was sick at all. He was throwing a sickie to go horse racing." | "We do not accept he was sick at all. He was throwing a sickie to go horse racing." |
PC Adams said he had taken time off to avoid a "toxic" environment at Barton Street station. He described suffering stomach cramps, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome. | PC Adams said he had taken time off to avoid a "toxic" environment at Barton Street station. He described suffering stomach cramps, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome. |
The hearing was told it was "quite clear" he was "not OK" and was "struggling with his environment". | The hearing was told it was "quite clear" he was "not OK" and was "struggling with his environment". |
Richard Shepherd, representing PC Adams, said: "He would not have let his colleagues down to go on a jolly at the races. It is not in his DNA." | Richard Shepherd, representing PC Adams, said: "He would not have let his colleagues down to go on a jolly at the races. It is not in his DNA." |
But Alex Lock, chair of the panel, said: "We are forced to conclude that Pc Adams was not suffering the degree of sickness that he claimed he was. | But Alex Lock, chair of the panel, said: "We are forced to conclude that Pc Adams was not suffering the degree of sickness that he claimed he was. |
"It is important that police officers are honest and that public confidence should be upheld. | "It is important that police officers are honest and that public confidence should be upheld. |
"In the circumstances we conclude that dismissal without notice is appropriate in order to maintain public confidence in the force." | "In the circumstances we conclude that dismissal without notice is appropriate in order to maintain public confidence in the force." |
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