The director of the Midlands Air Ambulance, who took an uninsured NHS car on a “booze cruise” to France and then bullied a whistleblower, has been suspended for a year after being found guilty of misconduct.

Paul Leaman, who is in his 40s, and colleague Richard Lane removed seats to cram in more drink and took three NHS crests off the people carrier for the cross-channel jaunt.

In a separate incident, Leaman, who became interim director of the Cosford-based Midlands Air Ambulance in 2008, encouraged employees to use a stationery supplier run by a church friend of his, despite high prices.

Whistleblower Paul Holmes exposed the men’s behaviour to bosses at the Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust, where they were working at the time, in 2002, but was then “bullied and victimised” by his managers, the Health Professions Council was told at a hearing in London.

Leaman and Lane were found guilty of misconduct by the council yesterday.

Lane was given a caution.

Council chairman Gordon Sutehall said he did not believe Leaman or Lane were genuinely sorry for their behaviour. The council concluded the managers bullied Paul Holmes for reporting their behaviour.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Suzie Fothergill said today that bosses would be studying the decision wording before commenting. But she said of Leaman: “His skills are first rate and he is a highly-regarded manager who is popular with the staff at the charity and those who fly.” She added he had overseen change “which has ensured that Midlands Air Ambulance continues to raise the funds necessary to keep the three life-saving helicopters flying”.