A PCSO has been sacked after sending videos of him masturbating to a vulnerable 16-year-old boy and agreeing to sell an unauthorised Viagra alternative to another man.

The Sussex-based Police Community Support Officer had an inappropriate relationship with the boy, a regular missing person, after meeting him on dating app Grindr.

The officer also agreed to buy Kamagra, a “potentially very dangerous” erectile dysfunction medication, for another man who he met in a café while carrying out liaison duties.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found that he breached numerous professional behaviour standards. But the IOPC refused to reveal the officer's name to The Argus.

IOPC regional director Mel Palmer, said: “Part of this PCSO’s job was to build trust and confidence in the police amongst LGBTQ+ people in Sussex.

“It is disgraceful that whilst in such a trusted role he sent sexually explicit material to a vulnerable teenager and bought unauthorised medication for another man.

“He also sent highly offensive derogatory messages to the man about parts of the LGBTQ+ community, conduct that was wholly unprofessional.”


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The PCSO, who remains anonymous, was sacked after a disciplinary panel hearing on November 28 decided his action amounted to gross misconduct.

The officer’s conduct went on for around a year between February 2020 and 2021.

The IOPC investigation found the officer exchanged WhatsApp messages with the man between February and December 2020 where he used “derogatory and discriminatory language” against various LGBT groups.

He then met the 16-year-old on Grindr in September 2020. The investigation found that the officer knew the boy was vulnerable due to his age and because he was a “regular missing person”.

The IOPC added that a file of evidence was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service but no charges were brought against the officer.

Sussex Police DSI Jon Robeson said: “Sussex Police expects all its officers and staff to act with the utmost integrity and respect, and with the highest personal and professional standards at all times.

“The force has invested in a comprehensive programme of cultural change towards challenging, reporting and tackling unprofessional or inappropriate behaviour both in the workplace and in the wider community.

“We are committed to protecting the public and treating everyone with fairness, equality and respect. There is absolutely no place for behaviour that falls short of those expected standards and that is reflected in the findings by this misconduct panel.

“The force has cooperated fully with the IOPC throughout its investigation and will continue to take appropriate and robust action against any unacceptable behaviour.”

The CPS were approached for comment.