PC who took squad car to dogging site sacked

A British Transport Police officer took his patrol car to a dogging site

A police officer has been sacked after he went to a "dogging" site in his patrol car.

PC Tony Hughes, a British Transport Police (BTP) officer based in Chester, had "no policing purpose" for the visit to the outdoor sex spot, a misconduct hearing heard.

He was dismissed without notice after being found to have breached professional standards.

Mr Hughes denied the allegation.

During his three-day hearing in York, he admitted breaching the force's driving standards policy, but denied lying about why he had been removed from a force driving course.

The independent panel found all allegations proven and Mr Hughes' actions to be gross misconduct.

Det Supt Peter Fulton, head of professional standards for BTP said: "Hughes used the force vehicles both in an unsafe and inappropriate manner, breaching several standards of professional behaviour that we expect of our officers.

"A thorough investigation was conducted by PSD which has resulted in the independent panel being able to make today’s decision."