A police officer who asked a victim of domestic violence if he could message her on Instagram is facing a gross misconduct hearing.

Former Police Sergeant Michael Wilson is accused of breaches of standards of professional behaviour, in respect of - honesty and integrity; orders and instructions; discreditable conduct and orders and instructions.

Investigators from Cleveland Police say the former officer attended the scene of an alleged domestic violence incident on September 10, 2022, and abused his position when sent the woman, known as Ms A, a number of non-policing messages.

The charges say he abused his position as a police officer by attempting to form and/or maintain a personal relationship with Ms A whom he had met in his capacity as a police officer.

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He abused his position as a police officer by attempting to a form a relationship with a vulnerable woman whom he had met in his capacity as a police officer.

That he failed to treat Ms A with courtesy and respect. Failed to act with self-control.

And attempted to establish and/or pursue an improper sexual or emotional relationship with Ms A whom he had come into contact in the course of his work and who may have been vulnerable to an abuse of trust or power.

The force website says that he failed to abide by the NPCC document on “Maintaining Professional Boundaries” and the Cleveland Police Policy on Maintaining Professional Boundaries and Standards of Behaviour.

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It reads: “That he behaved in a manner that discredits the police service and undermines public confidence in it because a reasonable member of the public would be justifiably concerned that a police officer had: “Attempted to establish and/or pursue an improper sexual or emotional relationship with a person who he had come into contact in the course of his work and who may have been vulnerable to an abuse of trust or power.

“Used his personal social media accounts to contact a vulnerable member of the public.”

The hearing will take place in Stockton on Monday, October 9.

If it is proven that the allegations amount to gross misconduct the ex-officer will be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list which will prevent him from working for any other force in the country.