A POLICE officer has been sacked after admitting sending indecent images of himself whilst on duty.

PC David Causier was dismissed with immediate effect at a misconduct hearing at Cleveland Police headquarters on Ladgate Lane in Middlesbrough.

The hearing, chaired by chief constable Iain Spittal, found the actions of PC Causier had amounted to gross misconduct after he had sent indecent images on five separate occasions between December 2014 and December 2016.

The disgraced officer said he was "embarrassed" by his actions and admitted he was receiving help from counsellors for his behaviour.

The hearing heard PC Causier had sent photographs of himself of an “indecent nature” to an unknown woman whilst on uniformed duty on December 27 and 28, 2014.

The following day, he then sent a pornographic image to an unknown woman.

PC Causier also accepted further claims he sent indecent photographs of himself on April 26, 2015 and on December 18 last year.

Speaking at the hearing, PC Causier said he was a “hard working” and “helpful” person, and claimed he had been “fully open and honest throughout the investigation.”

“I apologise for the embarrassment my conduct has brought on the force and the officers,” he said.

PC Causier added he was a “good person” and had “never done anything that put members of the public at risk”, before admitting his conduct was “not normal”.

After a 30 minute deliberation, chief constable Iain Spittal said he must demonstrate the “seriousness of the breaches” the officer had admitted.

“Your honesty is worthy of note and I accept your apology and note your desire to serve the community," he said.

“Police officers hold immense power and it is important that trust of officers is maintained.

“Breaches of this nature demonstrate great concern to me and I am firmly of the view that officers and staff and the communities we serve would be rightly outraged if the officer was retained.”

Cleveland Police confirmed the photographs were brought to life after concerns about PC Causier’s conduct were reported to professional standards.

The hearing heard during PC Causier’s 14 years at Cleveland Police, he had received 14 alleged misconduct breaches against him.

The force said three of them were withdrawn and others were “not of a level of seriousness that would progress to a misconduct hearing.”

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Police officers hold positions of trust and are expected to set the highest of standards when serving the people of Cleveland.

“For the minority of officers who are unable to do this, their actions and behaviour will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken.”