Special constable clocked at 106mph, panel hears

A special constable who drove at speeds of up to 106mph while on duty - but not for an emergency - has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

Former volunteer officer, FSC Adam Jeskins, resigned from Northamptonshire Police in August, ahead of a misconduct hearing in October.

Jeskins did not attend the hearing but gave evidence to the panel that he was travelling at speed for policing purposes but could not recall the details, due to the passage of time.

The force said Jeskins, a member of the road safety team who had completed more than 10 years of service, would have been sacked if he had not left the force.

The panel, chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Emma James, heard that on 5 October 2024, Jeskins was driving a marked police vehicle along the M1 in Northamptonshire and the M6 in Warwickshire.

He drove in excess of the speed limit, including past road works, on a stretch where the limit had been reduced to protect workers.

He also used the vehicle's lights and siren, "without a proper policing purpose", the hearing was told.

Four days later, Warwickshire Police issued a Notice of Intended Prosecution.

On 17 October, Jeskins applied for an exemption, stating he had been "travelling back on the M6 motorway at 80mph as an enforcement speed in a fully marked Police Traffic Car".

The force said this was "untrue".

Jeskins, who joined the force in July 2015, denied gross misconduct.

The report said: "He accepted that he was not attached to a police incident at the time but insisted that he would have had a policing reason which he could not now recall.

"He denied he was driving in that way because he was late."

The report heard it was claimed he was travelling at an enforcement speed but was also late to a cadet meeting.

It said: "He would have been aware of the potentially devastating consequences of driving at those speeds were anything to have gone wrong.

"Furthermore, he was responsible for training 20 cadets and to that extent was in a position of trust."

The hearing found he was of previous good character and had received work awards.

It concluded his actions were "deliberate, but there is no evidence that it was planned".

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