Inspector Thomas Hooper was off-duty at a game between Oxford United and Exeter City in September 2023 when his friends hoisted him up to put a inoffensive sticker of the Exeter manager onto a disabled toilet sign.
As he did so a female steward shouted at Hooper to “get down” but Hooper said he did not hear it.
A second steward, Simon Hunt, approached and put his hand in on Hooper’s back to steady him whilst encouraging him to get down.
Hooper alleged that Mr Hunt pushed his legs forcefully while he was in the air, which could have caused him to fall to the ground.
However, a BTP misconduct panel found Mr Hunt did not push, pull or shove the officer in any way.
Hooper then made various threats to Mr Hunt, telling him “I’ll f***ing see you outside” and “I’ll f***ing have you outside”.
He also called the stewards “knobheads” and stated that putting a sticker could be seen as criminal damage but stated “f*** me it’s minimal”.
The panel sound: “The Officer’s manner was throughout, hostile and belligerent and he only became calm and measured when spoken to by other police officers from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary when he realized the possible consequences of his actions and behaviour on his role as a serving police officer.”
They described his action as a “deliberate and sustained attempt to create trouble for Mr Hunt”.
The panel issued a final written warning of five years.
