By Humberside Police Officer sacked after misconduct hearing
An officer from Humberside Police has been sacked following a three-day misconduct hearing at Goole Magistrates Court.
PC Jonathan Leighton was found guilty for three counts of use of force and discreditable conduct and one count of discreditable conduct and honesty and integrity.
According to the hearing PC Leighton got into an ‘altercation’ with a taxi driver while off-duty, he then allegedly strangled the driver with a seatbelt and refused to pay for the journey.
The incidents cited in the hearing happened in July, September and October 2019.
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “Following a three-day misconduct hearing at the Old Magistrates’ Building in Goole, concluding on Wednesday, November 24, PC Jonathan Leighton has been dismissed from the Force for three counts of use of force and discreditable conduct and one count of discreditable conduct and honesty and integrity.
“PC Leighton’s conduct was alleged to have breached the standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of Use of Force, contrary to Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012, on three separate occasions.
“The first was on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, whilst responding to reports of a burglary at a property in Scunthorpe. The second incident was on September 29, 2019, whilst assisting officers with an arrest in Scunthorpe. The third incident took place on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, when speaking to a teenage victim of an alleged assault.
“It was also alleged that PC Leighton’s conduct breached the standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of Honesty and Integrity on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 when he allegedly refused to pay upfront for a taxi ride before getting into an altercation with the taxi driver.
“The three-day hearing was scheduled in front of a misconduct panel comprising of an independent member, a senior police officer and a legally qualified chair person.
“PC Leighton’s actions were found to have amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed with immediate effect.”
Head of Professional Standards, Detective Superintendent Matt Baldwin said: “Our officers are expected to act with integrity and professionalism at all times. In this case PC Leighton’s actions were repeatedly unacceptable and discreditable.
“We will not accept any officer or member of staff behaving in a way that fails to uphold or maintain their responsibility to serve and protect the public in our area. It is of paramount importance that we maintain the public’s trust and confidence by removing those who behave in a way that undermines this from the force.”
