Former police chief charged with fraud over alleged false military service claims

A former chief constable has been charged with fraud and misconduct in public office after allegedly lying about his military service.

Ex-Northamptonshire Police chief constable Nick Adderley is accused of making false claims of being a decorated Navy officer while applying to work for the police, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Adderley is also alleged to have lied about his educational achievements.

Adderley is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 10 November. The IOPC said Adderley, 59, is alleged to have falsely claimed he was a former lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy and had served in the Falklands War.

He is also accused of claiming he was entitled to wear associated service medals, the police watchdog said. Adderley is alleged to have committed the offences between 2018 and 2024.

He allegedly made the claims on his CV during his bid to become Northamptonshire Police's chief constable in June 2018. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of fraud.

Read more from Sky News: Parkinson's patient plays clarinet during brain surgeryRare ibis birds spotted in part of Scotland for first time Adderley was dismissed without notice in June. His misconduct hearing was told he wore a South Atlantic Medal (SAM), awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands conflict.

The hearing also heard that Adderley claimed on his CV and application form when applying to become chief constable that he had been in the Royal Navy for 10 years when he had served for only two. His tribunal was told he lied about attending the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College for four years and had been a military negotiator in Haiti, despite never visiting the country..