A SENIOR police officer, who claimed he had slipped and injured his back on a staircase, had been seen earlier on the stairs by cleaners with a tin of polish, a court was told.

Detective Chief Inspector John Ruddy later made a civil damages claim of £80,000 but the action was stayed when the cleaners made statements to the police.

Ruddy made the civil claim against Greater Manchester Police Authority just months before he retired on full pension after completing 31 years in the force.

The alleged accident happened on a rear staircase at Openshaw Police Station in Manchester on August 23, 1995.

Ruddy said he had slipped on the staircase as he went to a meeting with a superior officer and spent some time off work with a back injury.

But almost three years later and after the Greater Manchester Police Authority had paid £5,000 into court the cleaners contacted police.

Ruddy, aged 57, now of Watton in Norfolk, appeared at Bolton Crown Court to stand trial. He denied obtaining property by deception.

Prosecutor Mark Lamberty said that the prosecution maintained that DCI Ruddy had deliberately made the stairs slippery by spreading polish.

A claim for damages was made and a writ was lodged at the High Court for damages up to £80,000, part of which was to cover for lost salary.

The GM Police Authority then paid £5,000 into court which would have meant Ruddy paying any court costs had he been awarded less than £5,000.

When he was arrested and interviewed at Bolton Police Station Ruddy denied that he had made up the claim and said that he had been a reluctant claimant saying his solicitor had forced the pace.

Proceeding A SENIOR police officer, who claimed he had slipped and injured his back on a staircase, had been seen earlier on the stairs by cleaners with a tin of polish, a court was told.

Detective Chief Inspector John Ruddy later made a civil damages claim of £80,000 but the action was held up when the cleaners made statements to the police.

Ruddy made the civil claim against Greater Manchester Police Authority just months before he retired on full pension after completing 31 years in the force.

The alleged accident happened on a rear staircase at Openshaw Police Station in Manchester on August 23, 1995.

Ruddy said he had slipped on the staircase as he went to a meeting with a superior officer and spent some time off work with a back injury.

Cleaners

But almost three years later and after the Greater Manchester Police Authority had paid £5,000 into court the cleaners contacted police.

Ruddy, aged 57, now of Watton in Norfolk, appeared at Bolton Crown Court to stand trial. He denied attempting to obtain property by deception.

Prosecutor Mark Lamberty said that the prosecution maintained that DCI Ruddy had deliberately made the stairs slippery by spreading polish.

A claim for damages was made and a writ was lodged at the High Court for damages up to £80,000, part of which was to cover for lost salary.

The GM Police Authority then paid £5,000 into court which would have meant Ruddy paying any court costs had he been awarded less than £5,000.

When he was arrested and interviewed at Bolton Police Station Ruddy denied that he had made up the claim and said that he had been a reluctant claimant saying his solicitor had forced the pace.

Proceeding