Sacked: Disgraced Yorkshire PC who scrawled '˜paedo' on suspect's CV

Although PC Simon Ryan said his actions were “jokey”, he accepted he had let North Yorkshire Police Down.

A disciplinary board chaired by Lyndsey Hall, found him guilty of gross misconduct yesterday.

Today he appeared at the police HQ in Newby Wiske, Northallerton, to hear his fate.

In delivering the verdict, Ms Hall said: “It is not primarily punishment but a means to maintain the reputation and confidence in it.

“If an officer tarnishes the reputation of the force it undermines their confidence in it.

“This would always need to be disclosed in any court proceedings.

“Your deployment as a police officer would be flawed by character reference and antecedents.

“The appropriate outcome is dismissal without notice.”

The North Yorkshire Police officer of 13 years had denied gross misconduct but apologised, claiming his “puerile” behaviour was intended to “leaven” the mood of colleagues.

The hearing at the police headquarters is the first disciplinary the force has held at which the public are allowed to attend, watching proceedings via a videolink.

The hearing was told that in January 2015, PC Ryan had been searching a property in relation to a child abuse case when he found a CV at the property and defaced it with with words like “paedo” and “kiddie fiddler”.

In the interests section he wrote “child abuser”.

Ten days later he turned up in a hat given to him by his 26-year-old stepson. Which said: “love weed”.

He was told to take it off but he then wore it again briefly, out on patrol.

Pc Ryan did not speak at the disciplinary hearing and left the force headquarters without being seen by photographers or reporters.

Pc Brad Jackson, deputy secretary of North Yorkshire Police Federation, spoke on his behalf after the hearing.

He said: “This has been a very difficult period in Pc Ryan’s career and personal life which he accepts was brought on by his own doing.

“Pc Ryan has apologised unreservedly for his actions and extends his apology to the public and people of North Yorkshire.

“We, North Yorkshire Police Federation, will continue to support Simon as he moves forward after today’s decision.”

The panel chairman, Lindsey Hall, told Pc Ryan: “The public have the right to expect the highest standards of behaviour and conduct from the police officers who serve them.”

She said his admission of defacing the CV - described during the hearing as tampering with evidence - would have to be disclosed if he was allowed to remain in his job and if he was involved in searches as part of criminal proceedings. That would affect his operational ability to carry out his duties, she said.

His barrister, Guy Ladenburg, had urged the panel on Monday to let him keep his job, saying he had played a “very poor practical joke” but was a diligent and hard-working officer of 13 years’ experience.