Runaway policeman faces losing his job

Daniel Adams pictured leaving Stockport magistrates court

A SHAMED young policeman faces losing his job after being found guilty of wilfully obstructing a fellow traffic officer in the execution of his duties.

Daniel Thomas Adams (21), a response officer from Greenfield, pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing to running off from PC Jon Scott last September and evading arrest for five hours.

However, magistrates in Stockport said they did not accept his evidence and ordered him to pay £1,100 in fines and costs at the resumption of the trial yesterday.

Rochdale-based Adams, who is coming to the end of his probation period with Greater Manchester Police, now faces an internal police inquiry into the matter.

Katie Jones, defending, said: “The police federation representative is of the view that it is quite likely, when the internal inquiry takes place, he will be dismissed from his position as a police officer.

“Simply because he is still in a probationary period, that is the likely outcome.”

During the trial, magistrates heard that Adams dumped his silver VW Polo and two female passengers at Saddleworth Cemetery car park, Gellfield Lane, just before midnight on September 13 after earlier meeting friends at the Church Inn pub, Uppermill.

A police helicopter was scrambled and police dogs brought in to search for Adams after he ran away from PC Jon Scott, who had been following in a marked police car.

Adams denied knowing it was a police car, turning to face the officer when getting out of his car, and hearing PC Scott call for him to stop. He also denied seeing any flashing blue lights, activated after both cars stopped, and said he realised it was a police car only when he spotted blue lights in the distance.

He was arrested at his home just after 5am on September 14 and breathalysed but found to be below the legal drink-drive limit.

Kate Beavis, chairman of the bench, told Adams: “We find that initially you were unaware that a police car was following you, but at the time you fled the scene, you were aware the vehicle following you was a police vehicle.”

She said they were satisfied PC Scott had identified himself as a police officer and Adams would have been able to see the blue lights.

In mitigation, Ms Jones said Adams was of previous good character and was supported by work colleagues, including Rochdale’s chief superintendent who had commented on his diligence while working on restricted duties.

She asked the court to consider the fact he would lose his job and find it more difficult to get a new one because of his conviction.

He was fined £375, given a victim surcharge of £15 and ordered to pay £750 costs.