Hero cop who canoed for Team GB sacked for nicking kayak and paddles and flogging them on eBay
A HERO cop who canoed for GB has been sacked for stealing a kayak and paddles - and selling them on eBay.
Constable Andrew Hamilton, 39, was hailed a hero last year after helping bring a runaway car to a halt before it hit traffic after the driver suffered a seizure.
Then earlier this year the highly commended officer was praised by GB coaches as a "standout performer" for the country at the world wildwater canoeing championships in Bosnia.
But the family man has now been sacked in disgrace after he was convicted of stealing a boat and paddles from club mates and cashing them in online.
A court heard the respected cop took belongings from two women at Nottingham Kayak Club, selling the paddles which belonged to Claire Kay for £142 online and pocketing the cash.
He was caught when one of the club members spotted the kayak, complete with distinctive strap, for sale online.
When club members confronted Hamilton he lied - saying he had bought the kayak and paddles in Scotland.
When he was unable to offer any proof of the purchase he tried to claim he had mistakenly believed the canoe and paddles had been “thrown out”.
The Lincolnshire Police officer was convicted of two counts of theft and had now been thrown out of the force following a disciplinary hearing.
A misconduct hearing held in Lincoln, on Wednesday, heard how police launched an investigation after mum Alison Chmiel spotted her daughter’s blue kayak had gone missing in July.
Another eagle-eyed club member spotted the canoe - with distinctive sticker on - for sale on eBay.
A club member put in a winning bid for the water craft and when they went to collect it snared Hamilton.
Solicitor Matt Greene, representing Lincolnshire Police, said: "A woman's daughter who attended the club noticed her kayak was missing.
"Her mother asked people round the club and was told a kayak matching her description was on eBay.
"The kayak was bid on by another member of the kayak club and was arranged to be collected from the home address of the seller.";
The shamed cop did not attend the hearing but in a letter he admitted he had let his force down.
“He cannot forgive himself for what he has done”, the hearing heard.
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Police Federation solicitor Craig Hewitt, who represented Hamilton, told the hearing: "He says he's struggling to see a future.
"He and his family may lose their home and he accepts he will be dismissed from the force.
"He knows he let Lincolnshire Police down and can't forgive himself for what he has done."
The fall from grace came after the cop, based at Grantham CID, was commended for his performance at the 2016 Wild Water Canoeing World Championships, in Bosnia, in June.
He was also handed a Chief Constable’s commendation after helping to save the life of a motorist who passed out at the wheel whilst doing 60mph.
The driver had suffered a seizure and was slumped at the wheel of the car which was still speeding towards traffic at a roundabout.
Hamilton and a colleague used their patrol car to bring the out-of-control Audi to a halt before saving the the driver with first aid - earning themselves the policing gong.
Chief Constable Neil Rhodes said: "This is a sad but relatively straightforward case. The officer admitted the theft allegations in interview and pleaded guilty at court.
"I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities the officer's conduct amounts to gross misconduct.
"Let me be clear I understand the impact on the officer will be massive.
"But there can be no place in the police service for an officer who demonstrated such unequivocally dishonest behaviour."
Hamilton, of Nottingham, was convicted of two counts of theft, between May 1 and July 9, at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on August 8.