A BACUP Traffic policemen was one of two officers who threw sickies at work so they could moonlight as businessmen touting for lucrative work contracts, a court heard.

Sgt Geoffrey Roberts and colleague PC Howard Jones, both 46, raked in a total of £86,000 between them by bunking off duty to run a cottage industry as independent safety consultants.

Both men - who worked for Greater Manchester Police at the Divisional Traffic Unit in Oldham - claimed they were unfit to work for the force due to recurring neck and back problems.

But the court was told they clocked up hundreds of miles travelling as far as Ireland charging thousands of pounds as dangerous goods safety advisers - ensuring companies were complying with new EEC rules.

On one occasion in September 1999 Roberts suddenly rang in sick. He had in fact travelled to the Fitzpatrick Hotel in Cork, Ireland, to provide a training course for which he received £1,640.

Despite claiming to have back trouble Roberts - described as a keep-fit fanatic - enjoyed a two-week skiing holiday in Denver, USA, and was seen lifting a large suitcase into the boot of his Range Rover at Manchester Airport.

He was also spotted running behind a woman on a horse at Strinesdale Reservoir.

Descriptions of him given to police by those who met him during the course of his consultancy work included "sprightly" and "a picture of health".

Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, heard Jones and Roberts were both off sick initially with genuine health problems.

But Suzanne Goddard, prosecuting, said they were then "blatantly and deliberately dishonest" by repeatedly claiming they were still unfit while operating their new jobs "on the side". They passed themselves off as retired police officers and they worked for Independent Safety Services at first but then cut them out forming their own business - Sargon - which counted NHS Trusts across the country as clients.

After officers raided their homes in January 2003 it emerged Roberts had made £79,970 from the safety business while receiving £32,692 statutory sick pay.

Jones had pocketed £5,973 and been paid £42,501 by Greater Manchester Police.

Following their arrests in January 2003 the pair reported fit for duty therefore entitling themselves to full pay when they were routinely suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

Both have since resigned from the force.

Roberts, of Cloughhead, Dean Road, Bacup, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of furnishing false information. Jones, of Leyton Drive, Bury, admitted four similar charges. They are due to be sentenced later.

Robert Platts, defending Roberts, said his client had been genuinely injured at work in 1995 when his police vehicle was rammed.

Mr Platts said: "He has had an unblemished life as a police officer."

Bernadette Baxter, for Jones, said his appearance in court was a tragedy for himself and his family.

He was said to have been "bitterly ashamed" of his decision to ring in sick when he should have been a witness at court.

(Proceeding)