Wife of police officer who quit after he was nearly killed by Novichok pays tribute

Wife of police officer who quit after he was nearly killed by Novichok in Salisbury poisonings pays tribute to her ‘darling man’ as he thanks nation for ‘overwhelming’ reaction

  • Nick Bailey yesterday announced that he had to ‘admit defeat’ after 18 years  
  • His wife Sarah replied to his announcement and said: ‘So proud of you!’  
  • DS Bailey today said he had been overwhelmed by the kind reaction from public 

The wife of the police officer who quit after he was almost killed in the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury in 2018 has paid tribute to her ‘darling man’.

Nick Bailey yesterday announced that after 18 years on the job he had to ‘admit defeat’. 

His wife, Sarah, replied to her husband’s announcement on Twitter and said: ‘So proud of you! Onwards and upwards.’  

DS Bailey today said he had been overwhelmed by the reaction from the public to his announcement, likening it to a ‘virtual hug’.

He said on Twitter: ‘The response to this has been overwhelming. I’m so grateful to everyone for their love and support. I feel like we’ve had a virtual hug from the nation.

Nick Bailey yesterday announced that after 18 years on the job he had to ‘admit defeat’

‘Thank you all, you truly are wonderful people. I wish I could respond to you all directly. Love to you all.’  

Three days ago, tagging her husband’s account, she said on the social media platform: ‘Watching someone you love struggle is mind numbingly painful. If that’s how I feel, living it must be a million times worse.

‘Wish I could take it away, or fast forward to a better place. Always here my darling man.’ She ended the tweet with the hashtag #mentalhealthawareness.

DS Bailey today said he had been overwhelmed by the reaction from the public to his announcement, likening it to a 'virtual hug'

DS Bailey today said he had been overwhelmed by the reaction from the public to his announcement, likening it to a ‘virtual hug’

Three days ago, tagging her husband's account, she said on the social media platform: 'Watching someone you love struggle is mind numbingly painful. If that's how I feel, living it must be a million times worse'

Three days ago, tagging her husband’s account, she said on the social media platform: ‘Watching someone you love struggle is mind numbingly painful. If that’s how I feel, living it must be a million times worse’ 

DS Bailey was left fighting for his life after being struck down by the nerve agent when Russian spies targeted former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia (pictured)

DS Bailey was left fighting for his life after being struck down by the nerve agent when Russian spies targeted former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia (pictured)

DS Bailey was left fighting for his life in intensive care after being struck down by the nerve agent when Russian spies targeted former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Yesterday he apologised for ‘leaving the blue line thinner’ but said the nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018 had ‘taken so much’ from him.

‘After 18 years in the Police Force I’ve had to admit defeat and accept that I can no longer do the job,’ he said.

‘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.

Yesterday he apologised for 'leaving the blue line thinner' but said the nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018 had 'taken so much' from him

Yesterday he apologised for ‘leaving the blue line thinner’ but said the nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018 had ‘taken so much’ from him

‘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 to make it work, I won’t 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 they have given me, and the support I have 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 I’ve made the blue line that little bit thinner. For me, it’s time for a change.’  

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

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.