Hero PC who stole canoe to sell on eBay

A HERO policeman has been sacked after a disciplinary hearing was told how he stole a canoe belonging to a 15year-old girl and sold it on eBay.

PC Andrew Hamilton – a world silver medal-winning canoeist – took the canoe and a set of paddles belonging to other members at Nottingham Kayak Club, where he trained.

A police misconduct hearing was told that Hamilton, 39, pictured, was caught after Alison Chmiel, the mother of the girl who owned the canoe, learned in July that it was for sale on eBay.

She turned up with the successful bidder, who was also a club member, to collect it from the Lincolnshire Police officer’s home.

Police were alerted and during their investigation it emerged that he had also sold the stolen paddles on eBay.

In June, Hamilton represented Great Britain in the Wildwater Canoeing World Championships. Two years ago he won a silver medal at the event.

He was sacked for gross misconduct at the disciplinary hearing on Wednesday.

At Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on August 8, Hamilton was convicted of two counts of theft. He was fined £490 and ordered to pay £290 compensation to Claire Kay, the owner of the stolen paddles, which were not recovered. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs.

In November, Hamilton was awarded a commendation by his chief constable, Neil Rhodes, for helping to save the life of a driver who had passed out at 60mph on a dual carriageway. Hamilton’s colleague, who was driving their patrol car, used it to bring the other car to a halt before the officers gave first aid. The driver made a full recovery.