Police inspector who had sex on duty keeps his job

Insp Lane kept his job but was given a five-year final written warning

A Sussex Police officer has kept his job following a misconduct hearing for having sex with a woman while on duty.

An investigation found Insp Darren Lane, 47, also sent her sexual images on four separate occasions and was in her company for non-work related reasons while on duty.

Insp Lane's actions were found to amount to gross misconduct at a two-day hearing held at Sussex Police headquarters in Lewes.

Det Supt Jon Robeson, deputy head of the force’s professional standards department, called Insp Lane's behaviour a "violation of the trust the public put in the police".

'Final written warning'

At the misconduct hearing, a panel led by an independent chairperson found Insp Lane's actions breached standards of professional behaviour which amounted to gross misconduct.

Insp Lane kept his job but was given a final written warning, which will be kept in place for five years.

Det Supt Robeson said the officer had "not only let down the public but also his colleagues".

He said: "We expect the highest possible standards of our officers and staff and we take any report of inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously.

"This officer’s behaviour is a violation of the trust that the public put in the police to serve and protect them."