Health practitioner tried out to leave Army to stay away from move from Scotland to England

A major Military health practitioner in Scotland was so desperate to stay clear of a putting up in England that he tried out to depart the forces – and then fraudulently booked flights dwelling when he was instructed he experienced to serve south of the border, a courtroom heard now.

Lt Col Chris Baird-Clarke, who gained a 6 figure salary, was moved from his occupation in Scotland to a position in Wiltshire aiding new recruits but was unsatisfied with the posting.

The 46-calendar year-old father of four claimed he was ‘distraught’ to learn he would both have to move his household from the residence they owned in Aberdeenshire or fly property each individual weekend to see them.

A court docket martial heard that following he was told he could not assert an allowance for flights he continued to e book the travel by way of the Army without telling his top-quality officers.

Lt Col Chris Baird-Clarke, 46, was so desperate to stay clear of a posting in England that he tried out to depart the forces – and then fraudulently booked flights property when he was told he had to provide south of the border, a court docket heard right now

Offering evidence currently, he advised the court he experienced witnessed ‘horrible’ conditions where soldiers had ‘lost control’ and suffered ill health thanks to a publishing they failed to want.

Lt Col Baird-Clarke had been doing work as the head of Defence Occupational Drugs for the Army centered in Edinburgh until finally June 2019.

He, his wife and 4 youngsters lived in Cornhill, in Aberdeenshire in the North Japanese corner of the state.

In the spring of 2019 he was instructed he would be necessary to go almost 600 miles to Upavon, Wilts to guide with the healthcare assessments of new recruits.

Following an unsuccessful attractiveness against the selection Lt Col Baird-Clarke even tried to look for early launch from the military as he could not bear the assumed of shifting to England, but was refused.

He faces two prices of fraud but admits three counts of failing to conduct a responsibility. He admits producing flight bookings but claimed he did not realise he was not able to do so. Pictured: Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire

Lt Col Baird-Clarke, who has accomplished excursions of Iraq and Afghanistan, reported: ‘In my position I have noticed and discharged numerous soldiers and officers who have formulated ill well being owing to publishing and situations in which they have misplaced handle and it ends horribly.

‘I knew I didn’t want to do that and then you only have 1 highway, which is to depart.’

The court docket listened to Lt Col Baird-Clarke also asked for a task-share arrangement that would allow for him to carry on doing work at weekends as an Military physician in Scotland and for that reason have his flights household compensated for as he would be travelling for ‘service reasons’.

Prosecutors allege he was explained to that as the function could be carried out remotely, he would want to spend for vacation himself if he wished to return residence.

Bulford Navy Court, Wilts heard that the Lt Col was in ‘significant debt’ and right after ‘obligatory payments’ only had £600 remaining a month.

As an Army physician of senior rank, his bare minimum salary would have been all around £120,000. On the other hand, it is likely he attained more simply because of his skills.

In whole, he booked 19 flights between Scotland and England, but only took 7 and was forced to terminate the remaining 12 just after being told once more by his commanders in England that he was not to make any more outings at the taxpayers’ cost

His commanding officer in Upavon, Colonel Andrew Griffiths, OBE, explained to the court he had resolved to reject the job share and distant doing the job proposals for the reason that he experienced to put ‘the requires of the military first’.

Lt Col Baird-Clarke claimed: ‘[I was] distraught and upset and indignant and felt wholly permit down…’

He told the courtroom that he immediately after becoming turned down by Griffiths, he spoke to his excellent officer in his outdated device, Surgeon Captain Mark Henry, about continuing to do the job for the Scottish branch and claimed he was given the alright.

He continued: ‘The end final result was to facilitate each goals. Of course, I wanted to save money but by giving that provider it permitted authorised vacation, by Captain Mark Henry, that saved that revenue.’

In whole, he booked 19 flights but only took seven and was forced to terminate the remaining 12 following becoming explained to yet again by his commanders in England that he was not to make any additional trips at the taxpayers’ price.

The total value of the bookings and cancellations attained £2,200.

In cross evaluation Lt Col Bilal Siddique, asked him if recognized he was in the army and had been provided a direct order to function in Upavon.

Lt Col Baird-Clarke replied he was made use of to his superiors in the health care occupation currently being ‘compassionate and understanding’ and he felt he was a ‘doctor in a green uniform’.

Lt Col Baird-Clarke faces two prices of fraud but admits a few counts of failing to execute a responsibility. He admits creating the bookings but claimed he did not realise he was unable to do so.

He has considering the fact that remaining the Military and functions as an occupational wellbeing medical doctor – but retains his title. He previously served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Canada and Ulster.

The trial continues.