A POLICE officer who lied and exaggerated about his military service has been dismissed without notice.

Former Cheshire Police superintendent Nick Adderley has been barred from policing after being found to have committed gross misconduct.

Mr Adderley, who was more recently the chief constable in Northamptonshire, 'built a military naval legend that wasn’t true' including implying he had served in the Falklands War despite being just 15 when the conflict broke out in 1982.

A misconduct hearing, chaired by Callum Cowx – who served in the Royal Navy, the Army and the police – found all allegations against Mr Adderley proven, saying they found 'his audacity to be quite staggering', adding that he had lied over many years with 'arrogant temerity'.

Mr Adderley did not attend the final day of the hearing on Friday (June 21), despite being directed to by Mr Cowx, but a statement was read out on his behalf by his barrister Matthew Holdcroft.

He said: “I had the privilege of serving communities in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire and it has been the greatest honour of my life to lead the brave men and women in those forces.

“For over three decades I have witnessed first-hand the dedication they apply and their unswerving bravery. 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.

“Thank you for your support, kindness and inspiring me to push on and be a better leader and colleague. I offer a heartfelt apology.

“Today’s determination showed I have failed you, something I deeply regret. I regret I will no longer be part of your future.

“Please be under no illusion I will be there cheering you on from the sidelines.”

Nick AdderleyNick Adderley (Image: PA)

The misconduct hearing in Northampton heard Mr Adderley wore a South Atlantic Medal, which he claimed was given to him by his brother Richard for his service in the Falklands War.

However, his brother did not embark for The Falklands until July 2, 1982, with the hostilities ending around three weeks previously on June 14.

On top of this, 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.

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 Cowx said the allegations against Mr Adderley amounted to breaches of honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.

He added: “Mr Adderley has a genuinely fascinating success story to tell. He joined the Royal Navy as a rating, a career was not for him.

“He found his vocation in policing and rose from able seaman to chief constable and that’s an amazing achievement worth telling, but something in Nick Adderley told him that wasn’t enough.”

Mr Adderley was dismissed without notice and placed on the police barred list by the panel, who said his 'sustained brazen dishonesty and sustained lack of integrity will cause lasting harm to the police service'.

He has 10 days to appeal against the decision.