Ex-Police Officer warned she will "end up being scooped from the gutter"

Monday 31 August 2020

A Police Officer who left the Force because of PTSD and stress has been given "one last chance" by Guernsey's Courts to tackle her alcohol misuse, after she was found worse for wear in a busy street.

Jennifer Power, 40, was given a two-year probation order for being found drunk in Elizabeth Avenue, by the Admiral Park Waitrose.

A member of the public called the police at around 09:40 on 28 July with concerns for Power's welfare in Elizabeth Avenue, which had a constant flow of traffic at that time. 

When police got there, Power was urinating in the street and smelled strongly of alcohol. She was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in a public place. A search warrant was made for her arrest just a few days later, on Monday 3 August, after she failed to comply with bail conditions. 

Power appeared before the Magistrate's Court last month for an alcohol-related shoplifting offence. 

"All of the offences relate to alcohol misuse," said Defence Advocate Julia Schaefer. "Miss Power is a hard-working and otherwise upstanding member of the public."

Power worked for Guernsey Police for around 15 years before leaving in the Force in 2017 "due to stress she was under as part of her role". She also experienced PTSD.

Advocate Schaefer acknowledged that Power has been given more than one chance to turn her life around in the past. However, she has been taking steps to face up her issues for a month or so now.

Judge Russell Finch said that the Courts could only help rehabilitate Power so far - the rest would be up to her to take the help provided to her.

"It is pretty bad that a member of public has seen you peeing in the street," he said.

"As far as I am concerned, this is your last chance, otherwise your life is going to spiral down and down and you are going to be scooped from the gutter by your former colleagues."

Judge Finch hoped that lengthy probation requirements would help her to address her issues: "I never want to see you here again," he concluded.