Ex-police chief charged with additional offence

A former police chief constable accused of lying in his job application has been charged with a third offence.

Nick Adderley, 59, who led the Northamptonshire force between 2018 and 2024, had already been charged with fraud and misconduct in a public office.

He has now also been accused of making a false witness statement.

Mr Adderley had been due to attend a hearing at Southwark Crown Court but his legal team said he was too unwell to attend. No pleas were entered.

According to the indictment, on 8 January 2020, he is alleged to have given a written statement to criminal proceedings in which he claimed he had been a lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy "which he knew to be false or did not believe to be true".

The misconduct charge contains a number of allegations relating to his time as chief constable, between June 2018 and June 2024.

These include that he "wilfully and dishonestly misconducted himself" by pretending he had been an officer in the navy, had been involved in the Falklands War and was entitled to wear the South Atlantic medal with rosette.

The fraud charge also contains a number of allegations, including that in June 2018 he "dishonestly… made false representations to the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and/or Northamptonshire Police" by saying he had served in the Royal Navy for more than a decade and had been "a commended officer (Royal Navy) for services and tours of duty".

He is next due to appear at court on 20 February and a provisional trial date was set for 6 December 2027.

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