Policeman fails in ballot-rigging case

Pc Tom Goodhill claimed damages for financial loss and ill health resulting from a bitterly disputed outcome of an election for the position of secretary with the South Yorkshire branch of the federation.

The official result, declared in January 2005, elected Insp Gary West, with Pc Goodhill only gathering nine votes.

Pc Goodhill alleged that the ballot had been fixed and he was the victor. A five-day trial in December heard evidence that 14 officers had voted for him.

However, in the judgment handed down yesterday at Sheffield Crown Court, Judge Bullimore found that at least five of those must have lied.

"I am satisfied his chief purpose has been to seek a determination in his favour of what he believed, namely that the ballot was rigged," he said. "He has failed in that."

The judge added the public requires "its police officers to show integrity in all their conduct".

"Unhappily any conclusions in this case would have indicated that such integrity has been lacking in at least some officers," he said.

Pc Goodhill's solicitor Peter Mahy said: "This has been a long running issue for my client who is disappointed that the judge found that officers had lied rather than the ballot had been rigged. My client is now considering an appeal to Court of Appeal."

Following the judgment, Pc Goodhill called for DNA analysis of the voting papers.