A POLICE officer has been dismissed after groping two of his colleagues while they were off-duty in a pub.

Detective Inspector Warren Hawes was dismissed by Durham Police following an investigation into the incident, which happened at the Woodman Inn, in Durham city.

Both of the incidents happened while they were off duty and attending a private function at the pub, in Gilesgate, on 14 October, 2016.

Mr Hawes, a long-serving Durham officer based with the North East Regional Special Operations Unit, faced a gross misconduct hearing following the allegations that he inappropriately touched a female police officer and a female member of police staff over their clothes, without their consent.

The misconduct hearing was part heard in May and concluded this month.

An inquiry panel found he had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct and authority, respect and courtesy.

Mr Hawes, was dismissed without notice following the outcome of the hearing.

A Durham Constabulary spokesman said: “We treat all allegations of such behaviour extremely seriously and expect the highest possible standards of behaviour from all our officers at all times, both on duty and off”.

Mr Hawes, who had previously worked in police teams in Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor, is not facing any criminal charges in relation to the incident.