November 22, 2018 1.09 pm This story is over 64 months old

Lincolnshire PC accused of using steroids says he was ‘targeted by colleagues’

The hearing found he breached his code of conduct

A former Lincolnshire police officer who refused to provide a drugs test after it was suspected he had been using anabolic steroids to enhance his physique has been dismissed from the force without notice.

PC Lewis Jackson, who was based in Gainsborough, resigned from the force the day after he refused to undergo the procedure on 8 October this year.

A special case hearing at Lincolnshire Police Headquarters heard an investigation was launched after a colleague reported suspicions that PC Jackson was using steroids to a Chief Inspector.

Photographs from Facebook and social media seemed to an indicate a disparity in the officer’s early and current physique, the hearing was told.

PC Jackson was invited to give a drugs sample at Lincolnshire Police Headquarters in Nettleham on 8 October but refused.

The officer was advised that declining the test would be treated the same as failing it.

David Ring, representing the prosecuting authority, told the hearing while it was not unlawful to use steroids it was illegal to supply them without prescription.

Mr Ring said: “This is a matter a police officer should be aware of.”

Former PC Jackson was not present at the hearing but was represented by Inspector John Hassell from the Police Federation who said the officer admitted the breach of conduct.

Insp Hassell said former PC Jackson was “keen to stress” that he had never used anabolic steroids but felt it necessary to resign because he had heard “snide remarks” from other officers and believed he would always be targeted.

The officer insisted his physique was due to hard training and lawful supplements and admitted he had not settled in Lincolnshire after transferring from the Metropolitan Police a year earlier.

Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly, who chaired the hearing, found PC Jackson’s failure to provide a drugs test amounted to gross misconduct and said he was not persuaded by his explanation.

The Chief Constable dismissed PC Jackson without notice after ruling: “I find that PC Jackson’s actions were inconsistent with that of a warranted officer.”