Northamptonshire chief constable found guilty of gross misconduct

In September 2023, it came to light that a member of the public had contacted the then Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold, to complain about Mr Adderley’s wearing of medals and military service record.

The complaint was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which began an investigation.

Mr Adderley issued a statement saying that the complaint had “had a private family impact on him personally”, and he had taken advice which resulted in him changing “the side of my chest on which these medals are worn”.

He added that his brothers had given him their medals to wear when one became critically ill, and the other emigrated.

In October, Mr Adderley was suspended and the IOPC warned him “in a criminal letter that we are examining possible offences of misconduct in public office and fraud by false representation”.

He was also served with a gross misconduct notice.

Two months later, the BBC was told he had never been a Royal Navy officer and, although a panel for his police job was told he served for 10 years, external, he had enlisted for less than two.

For some of the time when he had claimed to be serving in the Navy, he was registered as the licensee of a pub in Eastham.