Policeman who had breakdown after hoax call loses harassment claim

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:01 BST, 1 June 2026 | Updated: 12:05 BST, 1 June 2026

A policeman who suffered a mental breakdown after colleagues prank called him claiming he was under investigation for trying to sleep with a 'vulnerable minor' has lost a harassment case.PC Radoslaw Drewniaczyk fell victim to the 'cruel hoax call' in October 2021 when a fellow officer, who said he was from the Police Standards Department, informed him he had been accused of grooming an underage girl.Other colleagues filmed Mr Drewniaczyk's reaction to the prank – but he was said to be 'deeply affected' by the 'wholly fictitious claim' and was signed off sick from work for seven weeks.He has now tried to sue the Police Service of Scotland for disability harassment and discrimination – but has had all of his claims dismissed at a Glasgow employment tribunal.Mr Drewniaczyk was appointed as an officer for Police Scotland in December 2018 but had a probationary period due to last two years before he was a full constable.The native Polish speaker was based in Dumfries and progressed to the operational phase of his training as he continued to pass tests and performed to a 'good standard'.He was policing on the streets of Annan in south–west Scotland from March 2019.On October 21 2019, one of Mr Drewniaczyk's colleagues 'telephoned him pretending to be from the Police Standards Department and suggested they had received a complaint about [him] from a vulnerable female minor'. PC Radoslaw Drewniaczyk has now tried to sue the Police Service of Scotland for disability harassment and discrimination – but has had all of his claims dismissed at a Glasgow employment tribunal. Pictured: Glasgow Tribunals CentreThe tribunal heard: 'The caller told [Mr Drewniaczyk] she was alleging that [Mr Drewniaczyk] wished to engage in sexual activities with her. This was wholly fictitious and was intended to be a "prank".'One of [Mr Drewniaczyk's] other colleagues filmed [Mr Drewniaczyk] on a mobile phone as [he] took the call and reacted to it.'[Mr Drewniaczyk] was deeply affected by this incident.'He informed his sergeant of the incident on October 25 2019 and from then went off with stress and anxiety.'The following day the officer's sergeant and a police inspector went to his home to conduct a welfare check.Mr Drewniaczyk was informed the video that was taken was being circulated, and while the option of making a formal complaint was discussed, he decided he did not want to.He disclosed to his sergeant that he had issues concerning childhood trauma and his domestic relationship.Mr Drewniaczyk remained off sick for seven weeks, but his sergeant visited him for another welfare check at the end of November.The sergeant was concerned that Mr Drewniaczyk 'looked dishevelled and smelled of alcohol'.While they were talking, Mr Drewniaczyk 'became upset' and 'was banging his head off the table and required to be restrained'.The sergeant called an ambulance and the officer was taken to hospital where he continued 'talking about childhood trauma' and was 'pulling his hair'.The police's occupational health team assessed that Mr Drewniaczyk was suffering an 'acute stress reaction' from the prank call.In late December he returned to work at Dumfries Police Station – but was placed on light duties at the front office.However his probationary period was extended by six months and the officer was provided with an 'action plan' to help get him back on track.He briefly went off sick again in September 2020, and when his new sergeant visited him at home he was again 'dishevelled and had been drinking alcohol'.Mr Drewniaczyk also 'disagreed with the action plan which he was waving about' so it was placed on hold for his wellbeing.He continued to work for the police but struggled with his mental health and his relationships with others in the constabulary, including the colleagues who had pranked him.Eventually Mr Drewniaczyk was discharged from the force on July 13, 2023.A letter read to the officer said: 'I have decided to discharge you from your appointment as a Constable… on the grounds that I consider that you are not fit physically or mentally to perform the duties of Office of Constable or are unlikely to become an efficient or well conducted constable.'The officer believed he was the victim of disability harassment and disability discrimination and took the force to an Employment Tribunal in Glasgow.Employment Judge Lesley Murphy has now dismissed his claims, stating Mr Drewniaczyk should have been discharged.Judge Murphy said the prank call was a 'cruel hoax', but concluded: 'In all of the circumstances, applying an objective test, I am satisfied that the recommendation of discharge was a proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aim of ensuring operational police officers were fit for service and could give safe and efficient service.'