A police constable has been dismissed without notice from Devon and Cornwall Police, after members of the misconduct panel found that his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

It had been alleged that on August 12 last year, PC Jack Martindale had sent a message to a senior officer to say he was sick and attached a photograph of a positive Covid test.

In further messages over the following days, he continued to indicate that he was unwell but on August 30 PC Martindale spoke to an inspector and admitted that he had lied about having Covid and reporting sick. PC Martindale explained that he had sent a photograph of an old Covid test.

In a separate matter, which was investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the panel found that his actions had amounted to misconduct in respect of allegations of inappropriate contact with a victim of crime.

Members of the panel found that PC Martindale had breached the standards appropriate to the conduct of a police officer in respect of 'Honesty and Integrity', 'Duties and Responsibilities', 'Authority, Respect and Courtesy' and 'Discreditable Conduct'.

Following the two-day public hearing, the panel concluded that the allegations were proven, and that PC Martindale had breached the expected standards of professional behaviour.

The panel determined that the officer would be dismissed without notice and his details will be submitted to the College of Policing Barred List, preventing him from working within policing.

Head of Professional Standards, Superintendent Jo Arundale, said: “Members of the public have a right to expect officers to behave to high standard and on this occasion, the behaviour fell below this level.

"Through his actions, the officer undermined the public’s trust and confidence in the police force and did not fulfil his duties and responsibilities.

“Such behaviour will not be tolerated within policing and the decision of the panel is that the officer is dismissed without notice.”