A FORMER police officer who went from fighting crime to fighting flab is now policing other slimmers at a weight loss group.

Dave Alexander, 51, had problems with fluctuating weight for several years before ballooning following his retirement from the force in 2007.

Just weeks before he was due to retire from his role as a sergeant in Lancashire he broke his heel playing cricket.

Suddenly he started eating and drinking more in retirement, while being considerably less active than he was.

The nadir came when Dave, of Padiham Road, Burnley, was on holiday in Australia and had an unfortunate encounter with the captain of England’s Rugby League team.

He said: “I was sitting opposite the England Rugby League team captain and realised that I could not fit into the chair with arms on and had to ask for a chair without arms. I was totally embarrassed.”

He also used to blame wife Alison for the way she took holiday snaps.

“I can’t believe I blamed her for getting the angle wrong making me look enormous,” he said, “even though I could only just fit into a size 4XL.”

Dave joined Slimming World just after Christmas and has since shed four stone, coming down to 16st 4lb.

“Losing weight has made a huge difference to my life,” he said, “I am healthier, fitter and a lot more active than I was just 3 years ago.”

Dave was so impressed with Slimming World that he has now taken over as consultant at the Rosegrove group.

He said: “I want to help others out there feel as I do now and especially let more men out there know it is not just women who attend.

“Men have the same feelings, emotions and weight problems as women do.”

The session takes place at the Rosegrove Unity Working Men’s Club from 5.30pm on Thursdays.