Police officer posted explicit images online

Cumbria Police said Hodgson was barred from working again as a police officer

A police officer published sexually explicit images of himself online using a false name, a misconduct hearing has found.

PC Jonathan Hodgson posted the images on a Twitter account before resigning from Cumbria Police after the force received two anonymous letters tipping it off.

A disciplinary panel ruled he had breached the standards of professional behaviour, amounting to gross misconduct and dismissal without notice had he still been a serving officer.

Chief Constable Rob Carden described Hodgson's actions as "abhorrent".

The former officer was accused of publishing the images on Twitter between May and June 2022.

It was alleged he set up a link to the Twitter account with CashApp, a platform allowing the account holder to receive payments.

'Discreditable conduct'

The force said it believed his intention was to receive payments in exchange for access to the pornographic content he posted.

Hodgson left his job in March last year after information regarding the images was submitted to Cumbria Police's professional standards department.

However, internal proceedings continued notwithstanding his resignation.

The ruling means Hodgson will be barred from returning to policing with any force, should he attempt to do so.

Mr Carden said: "The former officer's actions, as heard by the misconduct panel, were abhorrent and amounted to discreditable conduct.

"Had he not resigned, he would have been dismissed for his actions.

"I hope that the outcome of the misconduct proceedings will demonstrate to the public that all allegations against police officers and staff are treated with the utmost seriousness, investigated thoroughly and, where wrong-doing is found to be evidenced, significant action is taken to hold them accountable."