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North Yorkshire policeman sacked over 'I love weed' hat | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A police officer who wore a woolly hat with the words "I love weed" while on duty has been sacked from the force. | |
A disciplinary panel found PC Simon Ryan of North Yorkshire Police guilty of gross misconduct. | A disciplinary panel found PC Simon Ryan of North Yorkshire Police guilty of gross misconduct. |
It also heard he defaced a suspect's CV with the words "kiddie fiddler" and "paedo" during a child abuse inquiry. | |
The panel concluded the appropriate sanction "was dismissal without notice, demonstrating the gravity attached by the panel to the gross misconduct". | |
Live updates on this story and others from North Yorkshire | Live updates on this story and others from North Yorkshire |
PC Ryan had earlier apologised for what he said was "a poor practical joke". | |
The panel chairman, Lindsey Hall, ruled PC Ryan had breached six standards which police officers should uphold and had shown a lack of respect. | The panel chairman, Lindsey Hall, ruled PC Ryan had breached six standards which police officers should uphold and had shown a lack of respect. |
Edward Pleeth, for the force, argued his behaviour meant he should be dismissed. | Edward Pleeth, for the force, argued his behaviour meant he should be dismissed. |
Guy Ladenburg, for the defendant, said colleagues described PC Ryan as "committed, conscientious and diligent" and urged the panel to allow him to continue on the force. | Guy Ladenburg, for the defendant, said colleagues described PC Ryan as "committed, conscientious and diligent" and urged the panel to allow him to continue on the force. |
He added: "This officer intended simply to make a joke for the benefit of his colleagues. We recognise, of course, how inappropriate that is." | |
The panel heard PC Ryan found the CV at a house during a search into an allegation of a sex offence involving a child in January 2015. | |
He amended it to say "abusing children" in the section marked "interests" before showing it to colleagues, the hearing was told. | |
The panel was told he did not record it as evidence and later destroyed it at Northallerton Police Station. | |
Ten days later he was on duty wearing the hat both in the office and while on patrol. |