Police officer sacked over using job for personal gain

PC Anthony Sharman was found to have used his Essex Police email account to obtain paid photography work

A police officer who used his work emails to tout for business as a photographer and to get out of parking tickets has been dismissed.

PC Anthony Sharman, who worked for Essex Police, was found to have breached standards of behaviour over five different conduct matters.

A misconduct panel heard he used his employment for personal gain, and that in 2016 he assaulted his ex-partner.

Mr Sharman was dismissed without notice following a three-day hearing.

Assistant Chief Constable Pippa Mills, who was sitting on the panel, said the case showed "any attempts to seek a personal advantage by reference to our profession will be dealt with robustly".

Verbal abuse

The hearing was told Mr Sharman had a separate business interest that he conducted without formal approval from Essex Police between 2014 and 2015.

He promoted a photography business by using his position as a police officer to obtain paid photography work, sending emails from his work account identifying himself as a police officer and part-time photographer, breaching the force's standards of professional behaviour.

The panel found him guilty of gross misconduct for assaulting an ex-partner in August 2016.

The hearing was also told he sent emails about the potential purchase of cars from his Essex Police email account and challenged two parking tickets.

He was verbally abusive to a member of Essex Police staff outside work in August 2017, the panel heard.

ACC Mills said the force's code of ethics offered clear guidance about working ethically and honestly.

"The public rightly holds police officers to a high standard and we should hold ourselves to that standard, both as individuals and as members of a proud and ethical police service, whether we are on or off duty," she said.