Married fire chief, 49, and his ex-secretary, 34, who broke Covid rules to meet up both keep their jobs
A MARRIED fire chief and his former secretary who broke Covid rules to meet up during office hours have both kept their jobs.
Mark Andrews, 49, was fined after regularly driving 20 miles to see 34-year-old Anna Colwell despite her no longer working for him.
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Mr Andrews at first claimed his ex-secretary was a “work colleague” before admitting she worked for a separate fire brigade.
An investigation was launched by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service into the £105,000-a-year Deputy Chief Officer.
A similar probe was opened looking into Ms Colwell’s conduct – and police fined them both £200 for breaking lockdown rules.
But despite the Covid breach and meeting up during the working day, both parties have kept their jobs.
Senior sources at both brigades confirmed that following a double investigation the pair “remained in post”, the MailOnline reports.
An insider said: “You can only speculate over why they were meeting during working hours when they longer work together but the fact of the matter is they both work for the emergency services and they broke lockdown rules.
“It’s a pretty poor example to be setting to the public. I know they have had their wrists slapped and been warned about their future conduct. Let’s hope they heed the warnings.”
‘CONSEQUENCES’
The pair reportedly met on two successive days in January at her marital home in Worthing, West Sussex.
They also took a drive in her white Mini without face masks after the dad-of-two left his £1.5million home, which he shares with wife Judy, 58.
Under Government rules at the time, two households were banned from mixing to help stop the spread of Covid.
Mr Andrews was branded a “hypocrite” for flouting lockdown restrictions by his colleagues, Mail Online reported in January.
He had also tweeted urging people to “please follow government rules and stay at home”.
His bosses passed the case to Sussex Police.
When asked at the time if he had broken lockdown rules, the fire chief said: “She is a work colleague so clearly I had some work to do. But… in a way that didn’t compromise myself.”
He added: “I have to face the consequences frankly. But anything I say will be incriminating and difficult so I just need to absorb what you are saying to me.”
UNDER FIRE
Mr Andrews and Ms Colwell met while working at East Sussex Fire services headquarters.
She is understood to be separated from her husband.
At the time, she was with East Sussex Police, which shares its headquarters with the fire service.
She was interviewed by Mr Andrews for his assistant role last April but he left to re-join West Sussex Fire Service, where he began his career, in August.
The married chief, who has grown up twins, was said to have visited Ms Colwell’s home for four hours.
He returned the next day and let himself in by a side entrance with a takeaway later delivered.
A spokesman for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said at the time: “The outcome of disciplinary investigations are not made public.
“West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service takes any breach of Covid-19 regulations very seriously and will take appropriate action where necessary.”
A spokesman for East Sussex Fire & Rescue said: “The service does not make public any internal disciplinary investigations or outcomes.
“We take seriously any allegations of breaches of Covid regulations and take appropriate action where necessary.”
A source said in January that Mr Andrews’ rule-flouting could “lead members of the public to ease up”.
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They said: “It is disappointing, in fact it is hypocritical, for him to be breaking social distancing rules at a time when the Fire services are telling everybody to be safe by adhering to Government restrictions.
“The picture of him next to his former assistant in a car and with neither wearing a mask during the lockdown will not help promote safety during this pandemic.”
A West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The outcome of disciplinary investigations are not made public. A formal disciplinary process has now been completed.”