"I can no longer do the job": DS Nick Bailey leaves Wiltshire Police after Novichok incident
He took to Twitter to announce the news.
DS Nick Bailey, the Wiltshire Police Officer who was poisoned in the Novichok incident in Salisbury in 2018, is leaving the force.
Nick said he "had to admit defeat" after working there for 18 years.
In a series of tweets, he said that the events from March 2018 has taken so much of out of him and he is no longer able to the do the job:
"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.''
Nick was the first person to enter the home of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia, before they were aware of how they had fallen ill.
He was exposed to the nerve agent after touching the door handle, where the poison had been smeared.
Mr Bailey spent two weeks in intensive care after he was poisoned, before trying to return to work on a couple of occasions in the years since.
He attempted to go back in July but has now called time on his policing career.
Last year, Nick ran the Salisbury Marathon in aid of the Stars Appeal, a charity he recently became a patron of.
SUPPORT FOR OFFICER
Many of Nick's colleagues, friends and people who know his story have sent him good luck messages.
Wiltshire Police Chief Constable, Kier Pritchard, said:
"I have known and respected Nick for many years as a dedicated colleague and detective. Understandably, Nick and his family's lives was turned upside down following the events in Salisbury back in March 2018. Nick was one of the first officers involved in this incident when he was exposed to the lethal nerve agent Novichok.
Nick should be incredibly proud of all that he has achieved and will always be considered to be part of the Wiltshire Police family. I am sure that as one chapter closes, another opportunity will open up for Nick. He has been an outstanding officer and I wish him and his family the greatest success for their future.''
Many took to Twitter to show their support too.
This includes actress Annabel Scholey, who played Nick's wife Sarah in the Salisbury Poisonings drama:
Good luck for the future Nick, thank you for your service.