'Walter Mitty' police chief suspended after being accused of wearing a Falklands War medal despite being 15 at the time of the conflict 'worked in a pub when he claimed he was in the Royal Navy'

A suspended police chief, who is facing a 'stolen valour' probe, worked in a pub when he said he was serving in the Royal Navy, according to court records. 

Nick Adderley, 57, claimed that he had served for a decade before joining the police force in 1992. 

But court documents obtained by The Sun show that held a licence to sell alcohol at the Hooton Arms pub in Wirral, Merseyside, from 1989 to 1990. 

He served in the Navy for two years, worked as a lorry driver and sold houses for six years as a civilian, according to contemporaries.

Adderley - who earns £165,000-a-year - was suspended as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police in October after he wore a Falklands War medal - despite being only 15 years old at the time of the conflict. 

A complaint was received from a member of the public, before a mandatory referral of the complaint was made to the Independent Office For Police Conduct who are now looking into the allegations. 

Video footage has revealed how the police boss flaunted the South Atlantic Medal, which was awarded to British military personnel who served in the 1982 war between Britain and Argentina.

The married father-of-two, who was among the frontrunners to take on the Met before Sir Mark Rowley became commissioner in 2022, is accused of wearing it at a string of events including the Police Bravery Awards in July.

Chief Constable Adderley previously said he was 'very proud of his Cadet, Royal Navy and Police Service', adding he also wears medals awarded to his brothers with no further clarification.

'I wear all my medals with pride and have always worn the two medals my brothers gave me to wear when one became critically ill and one emigrated, alongside my own.

'Having been made aware of this complaint, which has a private family impact upon me personally, I immediately took advice last week regarding the protocol and have changed the side of my chest on which these medals are worn.

'I look forward to providing the IOPC with a fulsome response at the earliest opportunity and I fully appreciate that they have a job to do.'

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold told BBC Radio Northampton: 'This is uncertainty we could do without. I am ­hoping we got something sooner rather than later.'

Mold previously said he believed it was in the public interest, in the interest of the force, and of the Chief Constable himself that Adderley was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

He said: 'Allegations of misconduct must always be fully, independently investigated so that the public have confidence in the integrity of the police service and the processes that independently hold policing to account.

'That independent investigation must now be allowed to take its course and we will not be commenting further on matters related to the investigation.

'My focus will be on ensuring that Northamptonshire receives the best possible policing service and I know that the officers and staff of Northamptonshire Police will continue to focus, as they do every day, on their mission to constantly improve the way they tackle crime, keep people safe and serve the communities and neighbourhoods of this county.'

The suspension will be kept under regular review as the investigation progresses.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said Nick Adderley will be interviewed and is under investigation for potential offences of misconduct in public office and fraud.

An IOPC spokesperson previously said: 'The Independent Office for Police Conduct is criminally investigating the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire over allegations that he has potentially misrepresented his military service, both in public and in communications with the police, fire and crime commissioner.

'We have advised the chief constable in a criminal letter that we are examining possible offences of misconduct in public office and fraud by false representation.

'After reviewing information gathered so far as part of our investigation, we have also served a gross misconduct notice on the chief constable for potential breaches of police professional standards relating to honesty and integrity, orders and instructions and conduct.

'The serving of such a notice and letter does not mean that any proceedings will necessarily follow.'

'Stolen Valour' is the term commonly applied to the act of wearing military medals or decorations that have not been earned with the intent to deceive.

It is not an offence in the UK for individuals to wear medals or decorations that they were not awarded - but it is an offence to wear a military medal without permission, according to the UK Parliament's briefing on Stolen Valour.