logo
Thames Valley Police officer quit after 'vile' Instagram message

Thames Valley Police officer quit after 'vile' Instagram message

BBC News25-04-2025
A trainee police officer arrested after she sent a "threatening and vile" message on Instagram could still serve in the role in the future.Akhtar Khan was 13 weeks into a 26-week training course with Thames Valley Police (TVP) in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, when she was reported by a woman, a friend of her sister, for sending the message.After being arrested in November 2024, she accepted a conditional caution for a malicious communications offence and resigned from TVP two days later.TVP's chief constable Jason Hogg found that the 23-year-old's conduct fell below the required standard, but that she might mature and be an asset to the police.
He said that while the message she sent was "highly offensive", and she had been "naive… and foolish", it would have been disproportionate to sack her on the basis of the single message.Mr Hogg said he was "uncomfortable" with dismissing Ms Khan, in effect barring her from working as a police officer again."In 10 or 20 years' time, [she] is likely to have grown as a person," he added.
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy fined £70,000 after admitting drink-driving
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy fined £70,000 after admitting drink-driving

Powys County Times

timean hour ago

  • Powys County Times

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy fined £70,000 after admitting drink-driving

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been fined £70,000 after he admitted driving a car while drunk and crashing into a tree earlier this year. Murphy, 29, of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was also banned from driving for a period of 20 months at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol. He was charged by postal requisition on June 19 after he drove his grey Mercedes A Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27. He had a passenger with him at the time, who was the owner of the car, the court heard. They were both taken to hospital after the crash. Murphy was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station at about 7am, which showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath. This meant he was 'just shy of twice above the drink-driving limit' at the time of driving, prosecutor Richard Atkins told the court. He was subsequently interviewed by Thames Valley Police officers but was unable to confirm what had happened as he claimed he did not have a clear memory of the incident, the prosecution added. Sporting a dark blue suit, white shirt, and tie, Murphy only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address before entering his guilty plea. Judge Sam Goozee told Murphy he was taking two aggravating factors into account, adding: 'Your vehicle was involved in a collision which indicates an impairment. You were also carrying a passenger. 'You are lucky that neither you, your passenger, or the public were injured by your actions. 'I do balance that with the remorse you have shown for your actions. 'You have also recognised that you have let the public down by virtue of your actions, and your colleagues in the racing world.' Murphy's defence barrister Alex Di Francesco offered the court an apology on behalf of his client. Mr Di Francesco said: 'He wants to apologise, first to his passenger, to the public and other road users… and he wants to apologise to those whom he works alongside with.' Murphy received a £70,000 fine, with a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in costs. The figure was calculated based on his annual earnings, which the court heard are in the region of £250,000 a year, in addition to a weekly salary of £1,250. Murphy will also have to complete a drink-driving awareness course by August 13 2026, and will be able to reapply for a driving licence by November next year. The British Horseracing Authority said Murphy will remain free to continue riding, but new conditions will likely be added to his licence as a result of his conviction. 'Everyone at the BHA, like all involved in our sport, is disappointed today having learned the details of the offence to which Oisin Murphy has pleaded guilty,' a spokesperson for the BHA said in a statement. 'This is a very serious offence that, in the course of being committed, saw Mr Murphy jeopardise not only his own safety but that of his passenger and all other people travelling on the roads at the same time as him that night. 'His conduct fell a long way short of the standard we expect of all licensed individuals, in whom we place trust that they will represent our sport to the best of their abilities, upholding our collective reputation and ensuring racing is a safe place for all. 'In light of Mr Murphy's guilty plea and the information revealed in court today, we will be working on the addition of new conditions on his licence that may be referred to the Licensing Committee for their consideration. 'As has been the case in recent weeks, Mr Murphy remains free to take up his riding engagements.'

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy fined £70,000 after admitting drink-driving
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy fined £70,000 after admitting drink-driving

Rhyl Journal

timean hour ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy fined £70,000 after admitting drink-driving

Murphy, 29, of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was also banned from driving for a period of 20 months at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol. He was charged by postal requisition on June 19 after he drove his grey Mercedes A Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27. He had a passenger with him at the time, who was the owner of the car, the court heard. They were both taken to hospital after the crash. Murphy was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station at about 7am, which showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath. This meant he was 'just shy of twice above the drink-driving limit' at the time of driving, prosecutor Richard Atkins told the court. He was subsequently interviewed by Thames Valley Police officers but was unable to confirm what had happened as he claimed he did not have a clear memory of the incident, the prosecution added. Sporting a dark blue suit, white shirt, and tie, Murphy only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address before entering his guilty plea. Judge Sam Goozee told Murphy he was taking two aggravating factors into account, adding: 'Your vehicle was involved in a collision which indicates an impairment. You were also carrying a passenger. 'You are lucky that neither you, your passenger, or the public were injured by your actions. 'I do balance that with the remorse you have shown for your actions. 'You have also recognised that you have let the public down by virtue of your actions, and your colleagues in the racing world.' Murphy's defence barrister Alex Di Francesco offered the court an apology on behalf of his client. Mr Di Francesco said: 'He wants to apologise, first to his passenger, to the public and other road users… and he wants to apologise to those whom he works alongside with.' Murphy received a £70,000 fine, with a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in costs. The figure was calculated based on his annual earnings, which the court heard are in the region of £250,000 a year, in addition to a weekly salary of £1,250. Murphy will also have to complete a drink-driving awareness course by August 13 2026, and will be able to reapply for a driving licence by November next year. The British Horseracing Authority said Murphy will remain free to continue riding, but new conditions will likely be added to his licence as a result of his conviction. 'Everyone at the BHA, like all involved in our sport, is disappointed today having learned the details of the offence to which Oisin Murphy has pleaded guilty,' a spokesperson for the BHA said in a statement. 'This is a very serious offence that, in the course of being committed, saw Mr Murphy jeopardise not only his own safety but that of his passenger and all other people travelling on the roads at the same time as him that night. 'His conduct fell a long way short of the standard we expect of all licensed individuals, in whom we place trust that they will represent our sport to the best of their abilities, upholding our collective reputation and ensuring racing is a safe place for all. 'In light of Mr Murphy's guilty plea and the information revealed in court today, we will be working on the addition of new conditions on his licence that may be referred to the Licensing Committee for their consideration. 'As has been the case in recent weeks, Mr Murphy remains free to take up his riding engagements.' 'We will issue an update on this process in due course and will be making no further comment at this time,' the BHA added.

Woodstock pedestrian, 95, dies in crash whilst crossing road
Woodstock pedestrian, 95, dies in crash whilst crossing road

BBC News

time3 hours ago

  • BBC News

Woodstock pedestrian, 95, dies in crash whilst crossing road

A 95-year-old pedestrian has died after being hit by a car whilst crossing a man had been crossing Oxford Street in Woodstock at about 17:50 BST on Monday when he was involved in a collision with a blue Jaguar Valley Police said the man had been taken to hospital in a serious condition following the incident, and died on Tuesday force said it had made no arrests in connection with the incident, and urged potential witnesses to share any information they may have. It added that the Jaguar had been travelling north on the A44 through Woodstock town centre towards Enstone when the incident took place. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store