Nick Adderley: Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable sacked for gross misconduct | UK news

A police chief was fired after being found guilty of gross misconduct in connection with lying about his military service.

Nick Adderley, the police chief of Northamptonshire A senior police officer had been suspended with full pay since October for exaggerating his own rank and length of service and lying about his achievements in the Navy.

The allegations included the suggestion that he had served in the Falklands War, even though he was only 15 years old when the conflict broke out in 1982.

A three-member panel chaired by Callum Cowx, who served in the Royal Navy, Army and Police, confirmed all allegations against him after a five-day hearing.

They found “his audacity quite astonishing” and added that he had lied with “arrogant audacity” for many years.

Mr Adderley was dismissed without notice and placed on the police exclusion list.

The hearing was previously told that Mr Adderley had lied on his CV and application form for the police job, claiming he had served in the Royal Navy for ten years when it had only been two years. He had apparently included in his calculations his service in the Sea Cadets from the age of ten.

He also said he attended the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College for four years despite his application being rejected and worked as a military negotiator in Haiti, despite never having been to the country.

Mr Adderley claimed to have been a “commander or lieutenant” despite only having achieved the rank of able seaman. He was also accused of failing to correct inaccurate newspaper articles about his naval career.

Read more at Sky News:
Hackers publish stolen blood test data
British tourist stabbed to death outside Spanish nightclub

He had previously stated that the South Atlantic Medal (SAM), which he has been wearing since at least 2012, was given to him by his brother Richard when he emigrated to Australia in 2008.

The SAM was awarded to British military personnel and civilians for their service in the Falklands conflict.

Falklands Medal “110%” fake

But the hearing was told the medal was classified as “110%” fake by a Ministry of Defence expert, and the panel was told on Thursday that Mr Adderley told a “package of lies” about his brother’s service in the Falkland Islands.

John Beggs KC, representing the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC), told the hearing that Richard Adderley did not leave for the Falkland Islands until 2 July 1982, about three weeks after the end of hostilities.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Stay up to date with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Press here

The lawyer said Mr Adderley’s lies were an attempt to “create a naval military legend that was not true”.

Mr Cowx said the panel would not fully justify its decision today and would provide a written report within five days. However, he agreed that the allegations against Mr Adderley amounted to breaches of honesty and integrity and dishonourable conduct.

“Sincere apology”

Mr Adderley did not attend the final day of the misconduct hearing but said in a statement the decision ended his 32-year career as a police officer, during which he worked in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire.

He offered his “sincere apologies” to his former colleagues, saying he had “failed” in his efforts to lead by example and “uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.”

“One of the most painful aspects of this case is the pain I have caused to veterans of the armed forces. This is all the worse because I come from a very proud family of veterans,” he said.

“I apologize unreservedly to the veterans I have offended.”