A DETECTIVE who tried to protect a relative by paying off a pub landlord has been dismissed from Cleveland Police with immediate effect.

Detective Constable Mark Casey was accused of ‘trashing’ the force’s public image after one of his relatives was involved in the theft of four bottles of spirits, worth more than £250, from the Miners Arms in Eston, Middlesbrough, last year.

He became unlawfully involved into the police investigation into the theft by arranging for the suspect to pay off the landlord and taking an ‘unhealthy interest’ in his colleague’s investigation into the matter, a misconduct hearing at Cleveland Police headquarters was told.

DC Casey has now been dismissed after the panel found he had breached two standards of professional behaviour, confidentiality and honesty and integrity.

Deputy Chief Constable Simon Nickless said: “Officers hold positions of trust and are rightly expected to demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour when serving the people of Cleveland.

“Breaches of this nature are a matter of concern to the Force and the communities we serve and as a consequence of his conduct DC Casey has not lived up to the standards expected of all officers.”