Jailed police officer guilty of gross misconduct

A former police officer who was jailed for sexual offences against teenage girls has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

Paul Hanson from Nuneaton was given a six-and-a-half-year term at Warwick Crown Court in February for offences that he committed in the late 2000s and early 2010s, before he became a police officer.

The 33-year-old was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour through discreditable conduct at a gross misconduct hearing held by Warwickshire Police on Thursday.

Hanson would have been dismissed without notice if he had still been a member of the force, the police said.

The former response officer based at Bedworth was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, following a trial at Warwick Crown Court in December.

Following Thursday's hearing, Hanson was placed on the police barred list, the force added.

Claire Armes, the forces' assistant chief constable, said: "The officer's actions represent a profound breach of public trust and professional standards, and such conduct is utterly incompatible with the oath taken by officers.

"The harm caused by his misconduct will have had a lasting impact upon the victims of his crimes, and our thoughts go out to them."

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