Pc sacked for failing to help woman – and lying

MISCONDUCT HEARING FINDS ALL ALLEGATIONS PROVEN

A POLICE officer has been dismissed for failing to help a woman who told him she was being held hostage and abused by her ex-partner – and then lied about his handling of the case.

Aidan Weldon was sacked following a misconduct hearing which took place over three days last week.

The panel heard the constable failed to take action when the Leicester mother called police to makes the claims about her ex-boyfriend.

The woman – who made a complaint against Weldon – called the force in July last year saying her ex was in the house with her young son and was threatening to smash her property up if she called for help.

After alleging her ex-partner had violently attacked her and had been holding her hostage in her bedroom for three days, the officer let the man leave with the couple’s son, aged six.

The woman, who was screaming in protest at the time, was described by Weldon as “hysterical and abusive” when he reported back to his sergeant, while the man was described as “rational and calm”, the hearing was told.

The 27-year-old, who served as a volunteer special constable during his time at De Montfort University before becoming a full officer, later recorded the matter as a “noncrime” incident.

At last week’s hearing, he admitted five allegations relating to his handling of the woman’s report, but denied two accusations that he had lied to his colleagues about his actions.

Weldon acknowledged he had failed to ensure the child was prop erly safeguarded and that he should have arrested the man on the basis of what the woman had told him.

By failing to investigate the offences the woman had disclosed to him, the former officer was found to have treated her without “respect or courtesy”.

During the hearing, Weldon said he had “spoken to the lad in private” and that the youngster wanted to go with his father.

It was alleged that was a lie and that Weldon made further inaccurate statements to his superiors.

He denied attempting to mislead or lie to his colleagues.

However, the panel ruled those two allegations to have been proven.

Weldon told the hearing: “I got things wrong. I’d say she was justi fied in making a complaint about my behaviour.”

When asked what he would say to the woman now, he said: “I’m very deeply apologetic. I’ve seen the bodycam footage several times.

“I’m quite embarrassed and ashamed about it. I didn’t perform my duty properly. It’s almost as if I’ve given too much credence to what he was saying over what she was saying.”

The panel found Weldon guilty of all the allegations made against him and he was subsequently dismissed without notice.

Detective Superintendent Rich Ward, head of the force’s professional standards department, said: “Former Pc Weldon’s behaviour fell far below what we would expect of our officers.

“We take allegations such as this extremely seriously and will always investigate and bring misconduct proceedings where necessary and appropriate.