Novichok hero police officer Nick Bailey’s wife reveals he’s still fighting for his pension after devastating long-term effects of deadly nerve agent forced him to quit the force

• Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey left fighting for life after struck with nerve agent  
• Had to leave force due to illness after 18 years after attack in Salisbury, Wiltshire
• His wife Sarah has said seven weeks after leaving he’s still struggling to be paid 

The wife of heroic policeman who was forced to retire after being poisoned in the Novichok attack has revealed he is still fighting to be paid his pension.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey was left fighting for his life in intensive care after being struck down by the nerve agent after Russian spies targeted former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 2018. 

He had to leave the force due to illness after 18 years in the job and Wiltshire Police paid tribute to his bravery.

But DS Bailey’s wife Sarah has now criticised handling of his retirement and says that seven weeks after leaving he is struggling to be paid what he is due. 

DS Bailey’s wife Sarah (pictured together) has now criticised handling of his retirement and says that seven weeks after leaving he is struggling to be paid what he is due 

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey (pictured) was left fighting for his life after being struck down by Novichok

Posting on Twitter, Mrs Bailey poured scorn on Wiltshire Police Federation’s assertion that it helped her husband get ‘the compensation package he deserved’.

Highlighting an article in Police magazine which quotes Wiltshire Police Federation chair Mark Andrews, she wrote: ‘Not quite sure where to start with this. Compensation package? Injury on duty pay out?

‘Nick retired 7 weeks ago and he’s still fighting for part of his pension. You even said he resigned. Not the case at all, he’s been medically retired!’

DS Bailey ‘admitted defeat’ in an emotional social media post and revealed he could ‘no longer do the job’ he had always wanted since he was a teenager. 

Wiltshire Police Federation said the Novichok incident sparked its ‘biggest welfare operation to date’. 

Police magazine described DS Bailey as having spent three weeks seriously ill in hospital and then announcing ‘his resignation from policing after 18 years service’ in October.

Writing in the magazine, Mr Andrews said he has known DS Bailey ‘for 20 years’, adding: ‘Nick has my personal mobile number to call me whenever he needs a chat and that support will continue for as long as he needs it.

Posting on Twitter Sarah Bailey poured scorn on Wiltshire Police Federation’s assertion that it helped her husband get ‘the compensation package he deserved’

‘We also helped Nick to get the compensation package he deserved and supported him with insurance and his legal claim for injury at work.’

As well as the Skripals and DS Bailey, local mother Dawn Sturgess and partner Charlie Rowley all fell ill in the attack, with Ms Sturgess later dying.

The Russian government was accused of carrying out the attempted assassination on the Skripals and murdering Ms Sturgess by the British government however nobody has yet been brought to justice.

DS Bailey and his wife, who have two children, were portrayed by Black Mirror actor Rafe Spall and Annabel Scholey during a recent BBC drama series about the attack.

DS Bailey had to leave the force due to illness after 18 years in the job. He ‘admitted defeat’ in an emotional social media post 

Nick Bailey’s emotional resignation post in full  

After 18 years in the Police Force I’ve had to admit defeat and accept that I can no longer do the job. I wanted to be a Police Officer since I was a teenager, I couldn’t envisage doing anything else, which is why this makes me so sad. 

Like most Police Officers, I’ve experienced my fair share of trauma, violence, upset, injury and grief. We deal with it, take it on the chin and keep going because that’s our job. 

But we’re still human and the impact this has shouldn’t be underestimated. 

The events in Salisbury in March 2018 took so much from me and although I’ve tried so hard to make it work, I know that I won’t find peace whilst remaining in that environment. 

Policing will remain in my heart and I feel honoured and privileged to have been part of Wiltshire Police. I am so grateful for the opportunities that they’ve given me, and the support that I’ve received. 

We’ve all seen that the ‘Policing family’ very much exists and in the current climate it’s more important now than ever. 

To all those in the Police, I salute you. Keep fighting the good fight, I’m just sorry that I’ve made the thin blue line that little bit thinner. 

Be proud of what you do and know that you make a positive difference to so many people. 

But for me, it’s time for a change. 1772: off duty. #policefamily #thinblueline #joblikenoother #MentalHealthMatters. 

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