COP on sick leave has quit after bosses twigged he was moonlighting as a tree surgeon.

       PC Aran Kendall, 33, raked in ￡18,000 in sick pay before being filmed working for a tree-pruning business.

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       The hearing was told Kendall wrote to colleagues promising he would give up the second job to focus on his recovery and return to work as an officer (stock image) Credit: David McHugh

       Bosses summoned him to a disciplinary hearing where he was accused of breaching police standards of honesty, integrity, duty and responsibility — but Kendall failed to attend.

       The panel was told he had been signed off sick since July 2020 with an undisclosed condition. But between February and April this year, he was filmed ten times driving a truck registered to a tree services company.

       Panel chair James Keeley said that Kendall had “prioritised his personal life above the force” and his conduct “had a detrimental impact on the reputation of the force”.

       He added: “The breaches were ongoing and continuous and would have continued on if he had not been caught. Mr Kendall has been found to be dishonest and lacking in integrity.”

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       The hearing was told Kendall wrote to colleagues promising he would give up the second job to focus on his recovery and return to work as an officer.

       But he failed to do so and responded “no comment” during interviews with superiors when challenged on the matter.

       The panel heard Kendall, of Towcester, Northants, would have been sacked from Thames Valley Police had he not already resigned in June this year.

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