Friday 6 April 2018

Fireman Claims 'Witch Hunt' Behind Police Drugs Raid

A respected life-long fireman's career is on the brink after a police raid on his home found cocaine, cannabis and an electric stun gun.

John Chart, 47, was arrested on October 12, 2015 at the address in Bouverie Lodge, Rectory Road, Beckenham, but was only sentenced this week after fighting the case for two-and-a-half years.

The amateur power lifter had been suspected of supplying anabolic steroids, but no charges were proved regarding the muscle-boosting drugs.

Chart claims he is the victim of a 'witch hunt' within the London Fire Brigade (LFB) after making a complaint of bullying and was set up.

However, following a Croydon Crown Court trial he was convicted of possessing just under 10 gms of cocaine, 50 gms of cannabis and the stun gun, which he said a visitor had left behind at his home.

Last November he was sentenced for selling stolen clothing on eBay.

The father-of-four, who once saved a colleagues life, is just three years short of full-term service for retirement purposes and will also face disciplinary proceedings within the LFB.

He was charged six months after the search has been suspended from service ever since.

Police acting on a tip-off also raided Chart's girlfriend's home simultaneously, which the fireman maintains was the result of a 'vendetta' within the LFB against him.

The cocaine was discovered in the glove compartment of his van, parked outside the address and the cannabis in his kitchen.

The stun gun, which was not charged, and had been left behind after a demonstration by another fireman a year earlier and was in the bedroom of the address, which Chart's mother was using at the time.

He was sentenced to 100 hours community service and ordered to pay £750 costs.

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