Fire boss back at work after sexist messages inquiry

A chief fire officer investigated after being accused of exchanging offensive messages about female colleagues has been given a written warning and allowed to return to work.

Simon Hardiman from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service apologised "for the upset that has been caused" and said what had been reported does not represent him as an individual.

The expletive-laden messages were referred to by a solicitor as "horrendous, discriminatory, [and] offensive" and the fire authority had known about the alleged exchanges for two months but had not taken action.

The fire service said the decision to allow Mr Hardiman to return to work was taken following "an independent and external investigation".

WhatsApp conversations, reportedly leaked to ITV News in April, between Mr Hardiman and Mr Matthews, allegedly referred to women they work with as "lazy cow[s]" and "useless", during exchanges over more than a year.

An investigation into Assistant Chief Fire Officer Adam Matthews, who faced the same accusations, has not yet concluded. The fire service said Mr Matthews was not suspended but he was not at work currently.

Fire authority chairman David Minnery said: "The matter is now closed. I am pleased CFO Hardiman will now be coming back to work.”

Mr Hardiman said he recognised it had been "an unsettling time for the service" and that he was "looking forward to getting back to doing the job I love and to working alongside such a great team".

Sam Burton, who joined the fire service as interim assistant chief fire officer while the investigations were being carried out, has since been appointed permanent assistant chief fire officer.

She has replaced another assistant chief fire officer, Guy Williams, who retired.