Police chief who led Ted Heath inquiry lied to colleagues over smashed mobile phone

The police chief who led the controversial sex abuse investigation into the late former Prime Minister, Sir Edward Heath, has claimed people have been trying to destroy his reputation after an independent report revealed he had lied to his colleagues over a smashed mobile phone.

Mike Veale, who used to lead the Wiltshire force, but is now the Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, told colleagues he broke his work phone when he dropped it in a car park and it was run over by a car.

But an investigation by the police watchdog discovered that Mr Veale had lied about the incident and had actually smashed the device when he played a poor shot during a round of golf and hit his bag with a club in frustration.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded that Mr Veale has a case to answer for misconduct for lying about the incident to colleagues, and it will now be up to the Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger to decide what action to take.

Despite admitting lying, Mr Veale blamed the media for his actions for placing him under "intense pressure" during the Ted Heath investigation.

He also suggested he has been the target of a vexatious campaign to destroy his reputation for spearheading the two year investigation into allegations of historic abuse against the late former Tory leader.

He said: "It is important to emphasise that during the time I led the Force through Operation Conifer, a highly politicised and nationally significant and sensitive investigation, I was regularly warned by close confidantes and members of the public I would be subject at some stage to vexatious and false allegations to tarnish my reputation. Sadly this has been the case."

An investigation into Mr Veale's actions was launched in November last year after an anonymous letter was sent to the police watchdog, alleging he had deliberately damaged his phone to hide evidence of leaks to the media about the investigation, codenamed, Operation Conifer.

Mr Veale described the suggestion as "nonsensical" insisting he would not have damaged his own phone deliberately as he needed it.

He told IOPC investigators: " The damage was caused to my phone as a result of me taking out my frustration with my poor play on my bag."

He explained that he had lied to colleagues about the incident because he was ashamed of losing his temper.

Mr Veale said: "I was not proud of my behaviour on the golf course, particularly as a Chief Constable and leader of the organisation, hence the reason I decided to provide a different explanation for the damage.”

The IOPC concluded there was no evidence that he had deliberately damaged his own phone to hide evidence and pointed to the fact that he had subsequently asked his IT department to retrieve all the data from the device.

Mr Veale came in for criticism after spending two years and £1.5 million investigating historic claims against Sir Edward, despite the fact he had been dead for more than a decade.

A report, published in October last year concluded that Sir Edward would have been questioned over allegations that he raped and indecently assaulted boys as young as 10 were he alive today.

But the late former Prime Minister's supporters dismissed the report as a "whitewash" that would leave a stain hanging over his reputation and legacy.

The Telegraph later discovered that the main complainant against Sir Edward was a serial paedophile who is currently in jail for child sex offences and whose own family have dismissed his allegations as "fantasy and lies".

Lincoln Seligman, Sir Edward's godson, said: "  I have every sympathy with Mr Veale’s golf bag rage but I have no sympathy with his suggestion of a widespread conspiracy to blacken his reputation.

“Under his leadership Wiltshire police publicly invited and then implicitly endorsed the most serious of allegations against a former Prime Minister without adducing any credible evidence in corroboration. This , without any help from outside, will not have done his reputation much good.”

Responding to the IOPC's findings, Mr Veale apologised for lying to colleagues, but insisted he had been out of a sense of embarrassment rather than anything more sinister.

He explained: "During the course of this investigation I have had the opportunity to reflect on my actions. The account I gave to some colleagues should not have been given.

"My reasons were clear to me then and are now. I wanted to avoid unnecessary, sensationalist coverage in the media. I regret that I gave any account at all as to why the damage was caused as there was no reason to do so as this was simple an accident.

"This was a mistake and I could have handled it differently...I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not handling this matter differently."

Mr Veale was appointed Chief Constable of Cleveland Police in January this year before he was aware of the IOPC investigation.

Last night the Cleveland police and crime commissioner, Barry Coppinger praised Mr Veale for his honesty during the investigation and said he had recommended internal advice as the appropriate course of action.