'Posh' opera singer fails in police tribunal

A former mezzo-soprano who was sacked from Surrey police for alleged cowardice has failed in her £350,000 claim for unfair dismissal.

Alison Wheeler, 39, said she was a victim of bullying, sexism, ageism and was seen as "too posh" for the police because she owned a grand piano.

She joined the police after working for 10 years as an opera singer. A month before her probationary period ended Ms Wheeler was accused of cowardice, dishonesty and incompetence for not intervening as a colleague was knocked to the ground making an arrest in October 2007.

A Croydon employment tribunal today upheld the decision to dismiss her.