'My career is over... I feel bitterly disappointed in myself ': Ex-GMP chief Nick Adderley who lied for years over military service speaks out

A police chief sacked today by a force as its chief constable after being found to have committed gross misconduct by lying about his military history has said his 32-year policing career is now over. Nick Adderley also apologised 'unreservedly' for the 'hurt' he has caused to veterans of the armed forces.

Adderley lied and exaggerated his naval rank, length of service and achievements when applying to become chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, a panel ruled. He was found to have committed gross misconduct today by the panel after a hearing and has now been dismissed without notice.

A statement was read out on his behalf at the misconduct hearing on Friday by his barrister, Matthew Holdcroft. It said: "Today’s decision, by the disciplinary panel, brings to an end my career of over 32 years as a police officer."

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Adderley 'built a military naval legend that wasn't true', the misconduct hearing was told. It included implying that he had served in the Falklands War, despite being 15 when the conflict broke out in 1982.

The 57-year-old was previously the head of Greater Manchester Police's Tameside division when Dale Cregan murdered PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes while on the run after killing a father and son. He was suspended from his position as chief constable of Northamptonshire Constabulary last October.

The panel, chaired by Callum Cowx - who served in the Royal Navy, the Army and the police - found all allegations against Adderley proven, saying they found “his audacity to be quite staggering”, adding that he had lied over many years with “arrogant temerity”.

The misconduct hearing in Northampton heard Mr Adderley wore a South Atlantic Medal (SAM), awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands conflict, that was deemed “110%” fake by a Ministry of Defence medal expert.

Mr Adderley claimed on his CV and his application form when applying to become chief constable of Northamptonshire Police in 2018 that he had been in the Royal Navy for 10 years when he had served for only two, and had apparently included his service with the Sea Cadets from the age of 10 in that calculation.

He also lied that he had attended the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College for four years, despite his application being rejected, said he had seen active service during his naval career, had been a military negotiator in Haiti despite never visiting the country, and that he had been a “commander or a lieutenant”, even though he only achieved the rank of able seaman.

Mr Adderley had claimed that the SAM he had been pictured wearing a number of times since 2012 had been given to him by his brother Richard when he emigrated to Australia, but the panel was told on Thursday that Richard Adderley did not embark for The Falklands until July 2 1982, with the hostilities ending around three weeks previously on June 14.

His statement added: "I have had the privilege of serving communities across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire and it has been the greatest honour of my life to lead brave men and women of those forces, who every day and night came to work, never knowing what they may face, in order to keep us safe.

"For over three decades I have witnessed first hand the professionalism and dedication they apply and their unswerving bravery in the face of all that life brings, in the selfless pursuit of safer communities and protecting others. Sadly, I have also witnessed the impact and devastation when officers have paid the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in the face of evil. Scars that run deep and which will never heal.

"The pride I have in those I have led has no bounds, and I will be forever grateful to them for the difference they have made to the lives of so many, and for the difference they have made to my life too.

"To those I have worked with, and led, firstly I thank you, thank you for your support, your kindness and for inspiring me to push on, to be a better leader and colleague; but to those same men and women I offer you a heartfelt apology. As a senior leader and role model, one of my main ambitions was to lead by example and to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, promoting all that is exemplary in British policing.

"Today’s determination has shown that I have failed you in that regard, something that I deeply regret, a regret that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I also regret that I will no longer be with you in the future, as the challenges of policing get ever more complex, but please be under no illusion; I will be cheering you all on from the sidelines.

"One of the most painful aspects of this case is the hurt that I have caused to veterans of the armed forces. This has been compounded, as I come from a very proud family of veterans.

"For those who know me, will know that I have been a staunch supporter of armed forces veterans and that I have campaigned tirelessly in support of them particularly in respect of their transition from the armed services into policing, something I have been incredibly passionate about for many years.

"I am proud of the work and progress made but feel bitterly disappointed in myself that I did not take more care or was more considerate when displaying my own medals alongside those handed to me.

"To those veterans I have offended, I apologise unreservedly. I have made mistakes, I am human, and I am fallible and for those traits and mistakes I must take full responsibility, including the loss of a career that I cherished and lived for every day."