LOOKING BETTER
Policeman ‘on sickie’ spotted by bosses on TV celebrating win at Ascot races
The clip suggests he was well enough to come to work STEPHEN MORLEY POLICE FORCE LAWYER
A POLICE officer jumps for joy after watching his horse win a race – while he had the day off sick.
PC Jonathan Adams had claimed he was suffering symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome that day and was too ill to work, a misconduct hearing was told yesterday.
But he was caught on live TV celebrating as a nag owned by a syndicate he was linked to romped in, scooping £243,853.
Bosses saw the footage and launched a probe into that and two other sick days he took. PC Adams, 32, claimed watching racing when ill was “therapeutic” and a “coping mechanism”.
But force lawyer Stephen Morley told the hearing: “Our position is he wasn’t sick at all, he was throwing a sickie to go horse racing.
“The clip suggests the officer was well enough to come to work. He was well enough to be in the royal enclosure, jumping around. It is not good enough to report in sick and go on a jolly. He is a public servant and he is obligated to do what he could for the public.” Gloucester-based PC Adams was filmed by Channel 4 Racing celebrating Quiet Reflection’s win in the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot on June 17 last year. The horse was owned by his syndicate but he did not have shares in it. Mr Morley added: “It is right to say this officer did not have a financial interest in Quiet Reflection.” He had tried to book the week off but was refused. Bosses at Gloucestershire Police found the officer was also at the races in Nottingham twice last year when he was off sick with migraine. But PC Adams’ lawyer Richard Shepherd told the hearing in Gloucester: “To alleviate his stress, IBS and his migraines he watches horses. He was sick and he mitigated the symptoms by going horse racing.” PC Adams denies misconduct. If found guilty he faces the sack. The hearing continues.