A former police officer engaged in ‘astonishing sexual behaviour’ in a police car when he tried to persuade a woman to perform a sex act on him while exposing himself.

PC Matthew Lewis quit Cleveland Police after admitting his sordid behaviour where he was also alleged to have shared sexual images with another officer without the person’s consent.

Mark Ley-Morgan, representing the force, told a gross misconduct hearing that there was ‘incontrovertible’ evidence that the former officer would have been sacked immediately if he was still a serving officer.

He said: “The allegation is of engaging in astonishing sexual behaviour over a protracted period of time whilst one duty, both in police premises and in police vehicles.

“This is a case where the facts, save from the sending of images to PC B, the facts were admitted – on that point the evidence is incontrovertible.

“An investigator has examined the officer’s laptop and PC B’s mobile phone for images and you will see two images were found on both the officer’s laptop and PC B’s phone.”

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Dealing with the former officer’s behaviour in a police vehicle, Mr Ley Morgan added: “Whilst on duty he asked her to perform a sex act while he exposed himself to her.”

The barrister added: “Every reasonable member of the public would be shocked and appalled at the behaviour this officer engaged in whilst a police officer on duty.

“It’s totally shocking and no one in their right mind would come to the view that it didn’t damage the reputation of the police service.”

The former officer declined the opportunity to attend the hearing and a police federation representative said he had accepted his behaviour and that it amounted to gross misconduct.

It was alleged he breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour concerning Honesty & Integrity, Authority, Respect & Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct.

The first allegation was that he engaged in sexual activity on police premises and in police vehicles whilst on duty.

The second allegation related to him receiving and sending intimate images of Miss A, without Miss A’s consent.

And finally, he was alleged to have failed to be open and honest when giving an account of what he had done with the images of Miss A.

The legally qualified chairman, Stephen Gowland, adjourned the hearing until Wednesday morning when he will pass the panel’s ruling at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

If the allegations are deemed to be gross misconduct the former officer could be barred from working for any other police force in the country.

Sexual behaviour

A second officer, Clare Ogden, is also alleged to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour concerning Honesty & Integrity, Confidentiality and Discreditable Conduct.

The former officer is alleged she recorded sensitive information on her personal mobile phone and sent it to a third party.

It's also claimed that Ms Ogden engaged in sexualised behaviour while on police premises.

The ex-officer’s disciplinary hearing will also take place on Wednesday.

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