Essex Police Officer Dismissed For Drink Driving
20 December 2018, 17:14 | Updated: 20 December 2018, 17:25
A police constable who was found guilty in court of drink driving has been dismissed for discreditable conduct in a fast track hearing.
PC Samantha Creighton was stopped in her vehicle and failed a breathalyser whilst off duty.
Today, she attended a misconduct panel after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol on Tuesday 23rd October at Colchester Magistrates' Court and has been dismissed for discreditable conduct in a fast track hearing.
PC Creighton failed the roadside breath test on 9th September 2018, after being stopped by a colleague in Essex. She has been banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to pay a £490 fine.
Chief Constable BJ Harrington has told Heart:
"The consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be catastrophic and devastate lives.
Too often officers attend and witness the horrors of a collision involving a drink or drug driver. There are simply no excuses that one of our own officers, either off or on duty, got behind the wheel of her vehicle after drinking too much.
We have a duty to keep all road users and pedestrians safe and I had no option but to dismiss PC Samantha Creighton for her illegal, unprofessional and reckless behaviour despite her previous creditable service.
Today's outcome should act as a reminder to everyone, that Essex Police deals appropriately with drink driving."
