A police officer has been banned from ever being a cop again after he exploited an email loophole to order 26 pints while watching football.
Paul Elliott and his mates were watching England's Euro 2020 win over Germany at Loxley Sports Bar and Grill in Sheffield, back on 29 June 2021, when they decided to take advantage of a Heineken promotional offer.
The offer entitled each customer to a free pint, in return for providing an email address and other personal details on a table service ordering app.
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Elliott - who had three years' service - clocked that the app did not verify the email addresses, so they proceeded to order 26 free pints to their table using made-up details.
A tribunal ruled yesterday (Thursday 17 November) that his dishonesty amounted to gross misconduct, and he would have been sacked if he had not already resigned as a Humberside officer.
Chelsea Brooke-Ward, for the prosecuting authority, said Elliott ordered the pints 'despite being well aware it was one free pint'.
The barrister said the former officer had denied securing 10 free pints for himself and more for his friends.
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She said Heineken eventually realised there was a problem with the app verifying email addresses and withdrew the offer.
Brooke-Ward told the tribunal the bar's manager told investigators it was exceptionally busy due to the match, with around 300 people in the pub and takings of £4,000-plus in just two hours.
She told the hearing Elliott filled in a vetting form in May 2021 relating to his proposed transfer to the Derbyshire force but failed to include key details, including how he had been a suspect in a criminal investigation.
The details of the probe were not disclosed during the hearing but the panel was told no action was taken against Elliott.
Ms Brooke-Ward said the former constable also failed to disclose a speeding ticket and that he had been issued a final written warning for a disciplinary matter, the nature of which was also not disclosed on Thursday.
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Elliott did not turn up to the hearing at the former Goole Magistrates' Court.
In his absence, the panel of three said his behaviour breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to honesty, integrity and discreditable conduct and amounted to gross misconduct.
The panel's independent chairman, Nick Hawkins, said Elliott will be banned from being a police officer in the future.
He added: "Such behaviour is discreditable and undermines public trust and confidence in policing.
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"The public have a right to expect police officers to behave with honesty and integrity both on and off duty.
"Former PC Elliott was dishonest on two separate occasions within a short time frame."
Topics: Crime, Food And Drink, UK News, Football
Jake Massey