A Suffolk police officer has been given a final warning after he "pinged" a colleague's bra strap and made inappropriate sexual comments.

A misconduct panel met to consider the allegations against PC Stuart Barney on October 8 at Ipswich Town Football Club. 

It was said that in 2020 PC Barney made inappropriate comments, including of a sexual nature, to two female colleagues. He also poked one without consent.

Then in 2022 he made inappropriate comments, including of a sexual nature, to a female colleague. He also pulled on her bra strap and ‘pinged it’.

The panel found the action of the officer amounted to "unwanted conduct of a sexual nature".

The hearing that PC Barney told a colleague “you can sit on my face” and created an “intimidating, hostile, degrading humiliating or offensive environment for colleagues”.

It was also heard he made comments about other colleague’s breasts and comments of a sexual nature that had the purpose of “violating dignity”.

The panel found that the breaches amounted to gross misconduct, however characterised the behaviour as inappropriate attempts to dominate colleagues rather than any intention to gain sexual gratification. 

The actions related to three police officers and a sergeant.

A summary of the findings added: “The conduct didn’t amount to a sexual assault but did amount to an assault.

“The conduct did not amount to sexual harassment but did create a hostile environment for female colleagues.

“The conduct could cause substantial damage to public trust or confidence in the police.

“The factors taken together led the panel to place the culpability as high.”

The published outcome of the hearing states the panel considered the seriousness of the conduct, the circumstances giving rise to the misconduct, public interest, and mitigation.

They accepted that the officer had taken the first step towards his rehabilitation and that his performance was described as good.

The panel were not of the opinion that the conduct was so serious that only dismissal would serve to protect the public or maintain public confidence.

Instead the panel have imposed a final written warning which will be in place for the next five years.