Pc who called in sick was spotted on TV celebrating a win at Royal Ascot
A POLICEMAN was caught “throwing a sickie” when he appeared on television celebrating a win at Royal Ascot, a tribunal has heard.
Pc Jonathan Adams said he was too ill to go to work, only to attend the racecourse – and appear on Channel 4 Racing “jumping around” after Quiet Reflection, a horse he part owns, won the Commonwealth Cup.
The probationary officer is accused of calling in sick on three occasions to attend horse racing. He faces three allegations of gross misconduct under “honesty and integrity” and, if found proven, he could be dismissed from Gloucestershire Police.
Pc Adams claimed that he was ill on the days he went to the races, but found attending the meetings “genuinely therapeutic and helped him cope with stress and depression”.
Stephen Morley, presenting the case for the force, told the hearing: “On three occasions he deliberately reported sick in order to go to the races. There is no dispute that he reported sick and there is no dispute that he did go to the races. Pc Adams says he found that going to the racing was a good coping mechanism and made him feel better. We do not accept he was sick at all. He was throwing a sickie.”
Mr Morley told the three-person panel that on September 30 2015, Pc Adams reported he was suffering from sickness or diarrhoea but instead went to Nottingham. On April 6 2016, Pc Adams reported he had a migraine and again went to Nottingham racecourse. Pc Adams had then requested June 14 to 20 as annual leave, but it was rejected. On June 17, Pc Adams reported he was too ill to work because of irritable bowel syndrome. Instead he went to Royal Ascot where Quiet Reflection won the Commonwealth Cup.
The panel watched a 10-second clip from Channel 4 Racing showing Pc Adams jumping around and celebrating Quiet Reflection’s win.
When Pc Adams was interviewed, he said he was ill on the days he went to the races.
“He said that he found attending race meetings was genuinely therapeutic and helped him cope with stress and depression,” Mr Morley said.
Richard Shepherd, representing Pc Adams, said the officer was of “impeccable character”.
“Pc Adams did his best to manage his symptoms. There is nothing dishonest about that. There may be failings but it’s not dishonest,” he said.
“He has a stress-related condition, aggravated by his workplace, and he tried to alleviate that by his affinity and closeness to horses.”
The hearing continues.