7/7 police officer and former soldier dismissed after crashing car into telegraph pole whilst drunk

Drink driving: The police officer was dismissed following the crash
Scotland Yard
Chloe Chaplain20 September 2016
WEST END FINAL

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A 7/7 police officer and former soldier who crashed his car into a telegraph pole whilst drunk has been dismissed.

PC Spencer Garland was more than double the drink-drive limit when he crashed his car in Kent in February.

He was convicted of drink driving, fined and handed an 18-month ban and has now been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police force for “discreditable conduct”.

PC Garland, who worked in Redbridge, was reportedly first on the scene of one of the 7/7 bombings in London.

He also served in Bosnia, Kosova and Northern Ireland and, according to the Police Oracle, had recently been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression.

Police Oracle reported that, during the hearing, he apologised for the “embarrassment caused to my family, the Metropolitan Police Service and myself”.

He added: "I was very unwell at the time I have since sought treatment and I am recovering well."

PC Garland was represented by fellow Redbridge officer PC Michael Neill, who said he had been traumatised by the things he witness during his time in the army and as a police officer.

PC Neill said: "PC Garland self-declared his problem with alcohol in December 2015 and it is believed to be linked to his PTSD and depression.

"The PTSD is thought to have been caused by the horrific sights he was exposed during his time in the armed forces having witnessed various genocides.

"He was also one of the first on the scene of the Tavistock Square bombing during the 7/7 attacks and attended to the dead and dying.

"In the run up to the offence his wife was diagnosed with cancer for the second time and his six-year-old son was also very unwell and needed surgery.

"These factors combined caused him to start drinking, he was in a very bad place mentally."

Assistant Commissioner Helen King, who chaired the hearing, said: "I have huge personal sympathy for PC Garland's medical and personal circumstances but my conclusion is that he is to be dismissed immediately without notice.

"Drink driving brings discredit on the police service as a whole because public confidence depends on police officers demonstrating the highest standards of personal and professional behaviour."

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