A police officer kissed his colleague against her will and took her to a hotel room while she was heavily drunk.

PC Richard Hession kissed a female colleague on the neck against her will while he was a serving police officer in Brighton.

Nearly a year later, PC Hession took the same colleague to a hotel room while she was heavily drunk. The female officer then messaged other colleagues for help.

PC Hession was sacked after a four day disciplinary hearing this week.

The disciplinary hearing at Sussex Police HQ in Lewes heard how PC Hession kissed his colleague on the neck in August, 2021. The female colleague, who remained anonymous and was referred to as Officer A, said the kiss was unwanted and unsolicited.

The hearing heard that nearly a year later on May 11, 2022, PC Hession took Officer A to a hotel and booked her a hotel room while she was heavily drunk.

Officer A messaged another colleague for help who found her “unwell” with PC Hession.

PC Hession was the subject of a criminal investigation but this was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

The disciplinary found PC Hession’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and sacked him without notice.

Sussex Police Detective Superintendent Jon Robeson, deputy head of the force’s Professional Standards Department, said: “Police officers must behave in a manner that does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence, whether on or off duty.

“We expect our officers to act with the utmost integrity, and in accordance with the code of ethics and the standards of professional behaviour, and we have invested in a comprehensive programme of cultural change towards challenging, reporting and tackling unethical or unprofessional behaviour.

“The actions of the officer in this case fell far short of the standards we expect, which is reflected in the findings by the panel.”

PC Hession was also added to the College of Policing Barred List, meaning he will no longer be allowed to return to policing following his dismissal.