HOME Secretary David Blunkett is to be asked to step into a row over a massive cash golden goodbye to a policeman jailed for drink-driving.

He is to be asked to review an early retirement pensionaward, worth almost £500,000, to former detective constable Steve Pennington, who was jailed for four months last year for driving while four times over the limit.

It was his second drink-drive conviction in ten years.

His resignation on medical grounds was accepted by Cleveland Chief Constable Barry Shaw and he picked up a lucrative medical pension based on a neck injury sustained three years ago.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar last night claimed Mr Blunkett, who only last week announced moves to tackle a "sickness culture" in the police service, would not have sanctioned Pennington's golden handshake,

Dr Kumar added: "I think this is a classic case of just why the Home Secretary has said he wants to overhaul this practice. As far as I am concerned, if someone was caught drinking and driving he should have been sacked.''

A Cleveland Police spokes-man last night maintained the force had followed Home Office guidelines.

He added: "Even if a dismissal hearing has been held and the officer dismissed, the officer would still be entitled to a medical pension if a doctor certifies that his medical condition is due to an inquiry received while on duty."