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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Officer guilty of urine tampering | Officer guilty of urine tampering |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A Grampian Police officer has been found guilty of diluting his urine sample after being stopped for suspected drink-driving. | A Grampian Police officer has been found guilty of diluting his urine sample after being stopped for suspected drink-driving. |
| Police found lager and a kebab when they stopped Sgt Ewan McHardy, 41, after seeing him driving erratically while off duty in Elgin, Moray. | |
| He later sent his own sample for tests, but discrepancies were found. | He later sent his own sample for tests, but discrepancies were found. |
| McHardy was found guilty after a trial at Elgin Sheriff Court. Sentence was deferred until September for reports. | McHardy was found guilty after a trial at Elgin Sheriff Court. Sentence was deferred until September for reports. |
| McHardy was stopped in March 2005. He was breathalysed after two cans of lager and a kebab were seen on the passenger seat and a smell of alcohol was detected on his breath. | McHardy was stopped in March 2005. He was breathalysed after two cans of lager and a kebab were seen on the passenger seat and a smell of alcohol was detected on his breath. |
| Grampian Police and the public expect the highest standards of conduct from our staff and this officer has fallen far short of the standards we demand Supt Iain McGroryGrampian Police | |
| McHardy, of Aberdeen, provided a positive reading and was taken to Elgin police station. | McHardy, of Aberdeen, provided a positive reading and was taken to Elgin police station. |
| However, he claimed he was unable to give two further breath samples because he had a cold. | However, he claimed he was unable to give two further breath samples because he had a cold. |
| When a doctor came to take blood, the officer said he was scared of needles and was asked to provide a urine sample instead. | When a doctor came to take blood, the officer said he was scared of needles and was asked to provide a urine sample instead. |
| The sample was separated into two parts and put into sealed containers. One was given to McHardy and the other sent to the public analysis laboratory in Aberdeen. | The sample was separated into two parts and put into sealed containers. One was given to McHardy and the other sent to the public analysis laboratory in Aberdeen. |
| Detectives were told he sent his own sample to the forensic medicine department at Glasgow University later that week. | Detectives were told he sent his own sample to the forensic medicine department at Glasgow University later that week. |
| However, he was later questioned when huge "discrepancies" were found between the two samples. | However, he was later questioned when huge "discrepancies" were found between the two samples. |
| 'Absolute nonsense' | |
| The reading from the Aberdeen lab sample was far higher than the Glasgow reading. | The reading from the Aberdeen lab sample was far higher than the Glasgow reading. |
| He told detectives it was "absolute nonsense" that he had any involvement in diluting his urine sample. | He told detectives it was "absolute nonsense" that he had any involvement in diluting his urine sample. |
| However, Sheriff Ian Abercrombie said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt McHardy was guilty. | However, Sheriff Ian Abercrombie said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt McHardy was guilty. |
| He deferred sentence for background reports until 3 September at Inverness Sheriff Court. | He deferred sentence for background reports until 3 September at Inverness Sheriff Court. |
| Grampian Police Supt Iain McGrory, head of the professional standards department, said: "Grampian Police and the public expect the highest standards of conduct from our staff and this officer has fallen far short of the standards we demand. | |
| "What is important is that this case was investigated and reported to the procurator fiscal as a result of a thorough and impartial investigation conducted by his own colleagues. | |
| "I will be submitting a report on the circumstances to the deputy chief constable for his consideration in due course." |