Police officer sent sexual messages while on duty

Former police constable Matthew Stewart was found guilty of gross misconduct

A former police officer who sent "unwanted sexualised messages" to women on social media has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

Matthew Stewart, who was a constable for Cumbria Police, was found to have sent numerous women unsolicited, sexually explicit messages while on duty through apps including Tinder and WhatsApp, an accelerated misconduct hearing ruled.

Mr Stewart's conduct was found to breach the force's standards of professional behaviour, amounting to gross misconduct, and would have been dismissed if he was still serving.

Chief Constable Rob Carden said Mr Stewart's behaviour "brings discredit to the police".

Mr Stewart began working for the force in September 2018 and was an officer in North Cumbria and Carlisle. His last day was in June 2024.

"The former officer's behaviour in sending sexually explicit messages which were not requested and, on occasion, were sent while on duty, was unacceptable and amounted to discreditable conduct," Mr Carden said.

"Such behaviour from police officers brings discredit to the police as a whole and risks a loss of confidence in the police service."

He added Mr Stewart's actions "are not a reflection of the way the overwhelming majority of our officers conduct themselves".

The result of the hearing means Mr Stewart is placed on the national barred list, preventing him from becoming a police officer elsewhere.