Disgraced police officer would have been sacked

A misconduct panel said the officer's behaviour was a chronic "breakdown of trust"

A police officer who formed an inappropriate relationship with a woman he met on duty would have been sacked had he not resigned, a misconduct panel has ruled.

In July Martyn Newitt from Liskeard admitted misconduct in public office and misusing a computer to secure unauthorised access to data and was given a 12 month suspended prison sentence at Bristol Crown Court.

He was a temporary police sergeant when he visited the woman after an incident involving her ex partner and made a social media account under a false name which he used to exchange sexual messages with her, the court heard.

His conduct was described at a Devon and Cornwall Police misconduct hearing as "cynical and calculating".

The court was told he also looked up a police log regarding a rape allegation the woman had made against a different person.

The police misconduct hearing was told vulnerable victims come to the police seeking support and help and should not expect police officers to abuse their position of trust for their own personal gratification.

In its report published on Thursday, the panel said it was a "chronic breakdown of trust between victims and those that serve to protect them" and amounted to gross misconduct.

Newitt, 39, would have been dismissed and placed on the barred list had he not already resigned, the panel ruled.