Police Officer Got 26 Free Pints At Pub After Finding Loophole In Heineken App

A police officer who used an email loophole to place 26 beverage orders while watching football has been barred from ever working as a cop again.

On June 29, 2021, while watching England's Euro 2020 victory over Germany at Sheffield's Loxley Sports Bar and Grill, Paul Elliott and his friends decided to take advantage of a Heineken promotional offer.

In exchange for entering an email address and other personal information on a table service ordering app, the deal gave each consumer a free pint.

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Elliott, who had been working there for three years, saw that the app did not validate the email addresses, so they went on to order 26 free beers to their table using fake information.

His dishonesty constituted severe misconduct, according to a tribunal's ruling made yesterday (Thursday, November 17), and he would have been sacked if he hadn't previously given notice of his resignation as a Humberside officer.

For the prosecution, Chelsea Brooke-Ward stated that Elliott requested the pints "despite being well aware it was one free pint."

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The former cop, according to the barrister, denied getting 10 free pints for himself and further free drinks for his pals.

She claimed that Heineken eventually acknowledged a mistake with the app's email address verification and removed the offer.

Brooke-Ward testified before the tribunal that the management of the bar informed investigators that business was lively because of the game, with some 300 individuals in the establishment and takings of more than $4,755 in just two hours.

She spoke at the hearing. In May 2021, Elliott completed a vetting form related to his intended transfer to the Derbyshire force, but he omitted important information, such as the fact that he had been a suspect in a criminal inquiry.

The session did not reveal the investigation's specifics, but the panel was informed that Elliott faced no penalty.

The former constable, according to Ms. Brooke-Ward, also concealed a speeding ticket and received a final written warning for a disciplinary issue, the details of which were withheld on Thursday.

The hearing at the former Goole Magistrates' Court was absent Elliott.

The three-person panel concluded that his actions amounted to gross misconduct and violated the norms of professional conduct relating to honesty, integrity, and discreditable conduct when he was not present.

Elliott will no longer be able to work as a police officer, according to the panel's independent chairman Nick Hawkins.

He added: "Such behavior is discreditable and undermines public trust and confidence in policing.”

"The public has a right to expect police officers to behave with honesty and integrity both on and off duty.”

"Former PC Elliott was dishonest on two separate occasions within a short time frame."