A police officer has been given a written warning after failing to seize drugs inside a hotel room where George Kay was ‘eating cocaine’ before he died of an overdose.
A Cheshire Police misconduct hearing into George Kay’s death has concluded with a police officer receiving a written warning for ‘failing to take positive action’.
George Kay, the ex-husband of music star and TV personality Kerry Katona, died on July 6, 2019 after he was found in a distressed state at the Holiday Inn in Sutton Weaver, Runcorn.
George Kay, the ex-husband of music star and TV personality Kerry Katona, died on July 6, 2019. A Cheshire Police misconduct hearing into George Kay’s death has given a police officer receiving a written warning for ‘failing to take positive action’
Mr Kay was said to be acting erratically on July 5 and refused to return to his room, prompting staff to call Cheshire police, reported the Liverpool Echo.
Officers attended at 9.54pm on July 5 and spoke to staff so he could remain at the Holiday Inn overnight.
Police were said to have left the hotel after Mr Kay agreed to return to his room.
Hotel staff went to check on the former rugby league star at around 10am on July 6 to find Mr Kay ‘eating a large amount of suspected cocaine’ which had been placed on a desk.
The police and the North West Ambulance service were called, with Mr Kay being taken to Warrington General Hospital for treatment.
George Kay was found in a distressed state at the Holiday Inn in Sutton Weaver, Runcorn (pictured) before he died at Warrington General Hospital. Officers attended the hotel at 9.54pm on July 5 but left when Mr Kay agreed to return to his room
Hotel staff went to check on the former rugby league star at around 10am on July 6 to find Mr Kay ‘eating a large amount of suspected cocaine’ which had been placed on a desk
Mr Kay, who is the father of Kerry’s youngest daughter Dylan-George, aged five, was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Following a misconduct hearing, an unnamed police officer has been given a written warning for failing to seize a ‘small quantity of a substance believed to be a controlled drug’ in George Kay’s hotel bathroom.
A notice on the Force website said: ‘A police officer failed to take positive action when dealing with a guest at The Holiday Inn in Runcorn on July 5, 2019.
‘The officer failed to search the guest despite there being reasonable grounds to do so.
‘The officer failed to seize a small quantity of a substance believed to be a controlled drug in the bathroom of the hotel room.
‘The officer switched off their body worn video prior to entering the bathroom where the substance believed to be a controlled drug was found.
‘The actions of the officer were not captured.’
Mr Kay is the father of Kerry’s youngest daughter Dylan-George, aged five. He posted a picture on Facebook with his daughter just weeks before his death
The force said it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which investigates any potential failings by police officers.
A spokesman from Cheshire Police said last year: ‘At 9.54pm on Friday, July 5, police received a report of concern for the safety of a 39-year-old man at a hotel on Wood Lane, Sutton Weaver.
‘Officers attended and spoke to the man, as well as hotel staff. All parties agreed that he could remain at the hotel.
‘At 10.11am on Saturday, July 6, police received a further report of concern for the man’s safety.
‘Due to the information provided the caller was advised to contact North West Ambulance Service for assistance.
Mr Kay, who was married to the Atomic Kitten star between 2014 and 2017, had a history of mental health issues and drug use
‘Paramedics attended the hotel and the man was taken to Warrington General Hospital for treatment, where he sadly later died.
‘The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
‘As with any death following police contact, Cheshire Constabulary has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.’
Staff at the hotel were offered counselling after the traumatic incident, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Mr Kay, who was married to the Atomic Kitten star between 2014 and 2017, had a history of mental health issues and drug use.
The pair met as teenagers while pupils at Padgate High School in Warrington.