A 20-year-old police officer from Alsager has been struck off after he was involved in a crash and found to be over the drink-drive limit.

PC Owen Bourne was involved in a road traffic accident on 30 July last year while driving his own car. Following the accident, he provided a sample of breath which indicated he was driving with alcohol in his system in excess of the legal limit.

Cheshire police say a further blood test showed the level of alcohol in his system at the time of the collision was 128 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

On 21st October 2025, PC Bourne appeared at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his blood exceeded the prescribed limit.

He also pleaded guilty to an offence of driving without due care and attention and was convicted on these matters.

A statement released by Cheshire Police following an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing last month (December) said Constable Bourne's conduct breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in relation to Discreditable Conduct and he admitted his conduct amounted to Gross Misconduct.

"The hearing found that he had a case to answer for Gross Misconduct, and had he not previously resigned he would have been dismissed with immediate effect," it said.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts said: "Former PC Bourne made the conscious decision to drive his vehicle after consuming alcohol.

"The level of alcohol in his system exceeded the legal limit. I find his actions were pre-meditated, he and only he made the decision to drive. 

"His decision making was totally unacceptable and demonstrates a clear lack of insight into the impact his actions could have had.

"I am aware a collision occurred because of his driving, which aggravates his position, and it is by sheer luck that no-one was more seriously injured. 

"Such behaviour and decision making are unacceptable in policing and in Cheshire Constabulary and will not be tolerated. 

"I am disappointed that an officer in this organisation felt this conduct was acceptable. Clearly the only appropriate sanction is dismissal without notice had the officer not already resigned and his details will be added to the Barred list. "

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