An up-and-coming police officer has been given a chance to save her fledgling career despite committing gross misconduct after she had urinated on a shop floor and then lied about it.

PC Amelia Shearer sobbed as she was given a five-year final written warning after been described as an ‘exceptional officer’ during her probationary period with Cleveland Police.

The 24-year-old was accused of leaving a puddle of urine in a changing cubicle in Urban Outfitters while enjoying a boozy trip to York with a friend.

The probationary officer was challenged about her behaviour on the afternoon of September 11 last year and was found to have lied under caution when she was formally interviewed by North Yorkshire Police.

Read more: Police officer's career hangs in the balance after she 'urinated' on shop floor

A disciplinary panel heard was told that the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued an investigation into criminal damage as there was insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

Ogheneruona Iguyovwe, the legally qualified panel chairperson, said: “There is no doubt in the panel’s mind that PC Shearer has brought discredit on the police and undermined the trust and confidence the public has in the police.

“There were no actions taken by her to reduce the harm she had caused.

“There has been no remorse, no insight and no acceptance of responsibility for her actions.”

However, she added: “She is 24 years old. There is scope for her to be rehabilitated, there is scope for her to set the record straight and to begin on a new path.”

The Northern Echo: Urban Outfitters, York. Picture: GOOGLEUrban Outfitters, York. Picture: GOOGLE

Olivia Checa-Dover, representing Cleveland Police, had said instant dismissal was the only possible outcome as it was impossible to employ an officer found to have lied and still be able to work in the ‘evidential chain’ of criminal cases.

And Joan Smith, representing Ms Shearer, had urged the panel to give her the opportunity to overcome the incident and ‘flourish into an exceptional officer’.

She added: “We have a young woman with an extreme potential for policing. To use Inspector Duree’s words (the PC’s supervising officer) he said - ‘her abilities were spot on’.

“She has the ability to be an exceptional officer.”

The officer had admitted that she was ‘tipsy’ after enjoying a bottomless brunch where she downed half a bottle of prosecco and three cocktails before moving onto another bar for a Jack Daniels and coke and then heading into the store to look at clothes.

In her evidence, the PC categorically denied the allegation when she gave evidence at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium but accepted she became ‘flustered’ because she feared her career would come ‘crashing down’ on her.

Speaking after the hearing, Acting Superintendent John Bonner, of Cleveland Police, said: “We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our officers whether on or off duty.

“Today’s finding demonstrates that any behaviour which does not meet these standards will be investigated and appropriate action taken.”

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