A DANGER driver who doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself on fire was allegedly released without charge by a policeman who is now facing a misconduct hearing.

Sergeant Waseem Khan, who is related to the driver by marriage, was said to have allowed him out of custody with no further action despite him having led police on a 60mph car chase through residential streets of Middlesbrough.

Cleveland Police claim Sgt Khan is guilty of gross misconduct on the basis of two separate allegations and he is facing a public misconduct hearing.

The officer has been suspended from the force for more than three and a half years.

He was also said to have investigated a former family associate, Mohammed Anwar, in 2012 over claims that a “large amount of cash” would be changing hands at the Park Road garage in Middlesbrough as part of a Pakistan property deal.

Sgt Khan arranged for a police search of the premises and visited Mr Anwar at home and also in the police cells.

Cleveland Police’s barrister Dijen Basu QC said: “You informed Mr Anwar not to talk at the police station, and you would come and see him when you finished work.

“You went to Park Lane and told him to turn off CCTV and mobile phones. CCTV shows you arriving, then it being turned off.

“You told Mr Anwar he would get between five and nine years in prison for what he had done. Mr Anwar believed you and this threat led to him becoming ill. The investigation, led fully by you, was discontinued.

“You abused your position to have him arrested and search the properties.”

Sgt Khan is understood to be completely refuting Mr Anwar’s numerous allegations against him.

Mr Basu said Sgt Khan failed to disclose that he knew his cousin-in-law, or Mr Anwar, in either investigation, and also raised concern about Sgt Khan inputting two separate intelligence reports which were not in line with procedure.

The hearing heard that Sgt Khan was originally going to to face criminal charges on suspicion of misconduct in public office but the proceedings were dropped, with a misconduct hearing instead.

However, it emerged the force had disclosed no documents which explained why the case took so long to reach a hearing.

The pocket-book of one police officer – a key part of Cleveland Police’s evidence against Sgt Khan and his behaviour towards his cousin – was also missing from the evidence file, the officer’s barrister, John Beggs QC, said, and other “missing” documents had “aroused the paranoia of Sgt Khan and the suspicion of his lawyers.

The hearing continues.