A POLICE officer has been dismissed from the force after he was convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

PC Ian Noakes was found guilty of the charge following a trial at Brighton Crown Court on July 2.

An accelerated misconduct hearing, chaired by Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner on Monday, August 9, at Sussex Police HQ, Lewes, heard that PC Ian Noakes had been found guilty.

He was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, which amounts to Discreditable Conduct under the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

Chief constable Jo said: “The public expect the very highest standards of behaviour from police officers and rightfully so.

“Police officers can only police with the consent of our communities and that is on a basis of trust. Officers must act with the utmost honesty and integrity, and abide by the law of this country at all times.

“A conviction for such an offence is discreditable conduct, therefore amounting to gross misconduct. This is a clear case where PC Noakes neither can nor should continue to serve in the office of Constable.”

The outcome decision in this case was dismissal without notice.