An officer with Greater Manchester Police has been given a final written warning after sending sexual images of himself which showed a police helmet, badge and uniform.

The actions of Police Constable Simon Rickard came before a hearing recently.

The officer admitted he had met a woman on a dating site before February 2019 and had sent sexual images of himself to her.

One of them showed a police helmet, another showed a badge and in another he was clearly wearing police uniform.

The officer admitted carrying out the actions and that they amounted to misconduct, but denied they were gross misconduct.

In reaching a judgement, the panel clarified his actions could have left him in a vulnerable position.

It said: "The panel is not concerned with the sexual propriety of PC Rickard’s behaviour as such.

"What characterises his behaviour as unacceptable and improper is the misuse of the police uniform and the direct association that is made with GMP.

"There was a real risk that the images sent by the Officer might be shared with others or made generally available on social media.

"That would have brought discredit to GMP and undermined public confidence in the police.

"The officer placed himself in a vulnerable position which could have affected his ability to perform his duties as a police constable."

They ruled he was guilty of gross misconduct.

In reaching a decision on whether to dismiss the officer, the panel noted that while his conduct was serious it “was not at the very most serious end of the scale” and said it had received a “great many testimonials” from PC Rickard’s colleagues about his abilities.

It also noted the incidents had happened on just two dates in January 2020.

The panel opted to give the officer a final written warning.

It sought to reassure the public this conduct would not be tolerated.

It said: “The decision that PC Rickard’s conduct amounts to gross misconduct recognises the seriousness with which the panel views his behaviour.

“The officer has put his job at risk.

“The public can be reassured that the way he has conducted himself is not accepted and will not be tolerated.

“Other officers are put on warning about their own behaviour.”