A former constable with West Yorkshire Police is suing the force’s chief constable and demanding his old job back.
Stuart Bower, who left the force in 1985 after being found guilty of an offence of arson, was later cleared on appeal and won damages of £475,000. Now, 25 years on, he wants to be paid for 21 years worth of wages, plus a full index linked pension back-dated to March 2006. He has submitted a writ to the High Court for the further damages plus re-instatement to the West Yorkshire force.
The papers name current Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, Sir Norman Bettison as the defendant, and Mr Bower states in the papers that his resignation, 25 years ago, was illegally obtained following pressure from senior officers. He says he could not have known at the time that it was impossible for him to have either voluntarily resigned or not to have been made the subject of discipline and complaints procedures.
Mr Bower also alleges that the West Yorkshire force refused to investigate his case for 10 years, despite him repeatedly asking them to do so. The force has said it is not willing to comment because of on-going court proceedings.
Source:
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/ExWest-Yorkshire-Police-constable-seeks.6635233.jp