Police officer 'having sex on duty missed emergency call', tribunal told

A police officer missed an emergency call on his radio because he was having sex with his ex-girlfriend while on duty, a tribunal heard.

Pc Steven Austin allegedly went round to the woman’s home in the middle of the day despite being on shift.

The pair then had sex shortly after lunch and the officer left the house after spending around an hour and a half with his ex.

While he was at the house he failed to respond to a Grade 1 emergency call on his radio, a tribunal heard.

The call concerned a store manager who had been repeatedly punched in the head after a robbery and was now chasing his assailant.

The incident required an immediate police response as there could have been a danger to life.

Another Sussex Police officer also tried four times to reach his colleague on his police radio with no response.

Alleged conduct amounts to gross misconduct

On Monday Pc Austin faced a disciplinary panel to answer allegations relating to breaches of the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

It is alleged that Pc Austin attended a private property while on duty for about one hour and thirty two minutes with no policing purpose; engaged in sexual relations with Miss X there; and failed to respond to a Grade 1 call while at the property.

It is also claimed the conduct of Pc Austin, if proven, amounts to gross misconduct and is so serious as to justify dismissal.

The officer, who serves with Sussex Police in Eastbourne, denies the allegations.

The incident is said to have happened on Nov 23 2021 when Pc Austin was on duty.

The panel was told he contacted his former partner - Miss X - and invited himself round to her house, arriving at around 1.30pm.

The pair, who have a child together, then had sex before he eventually left the house at 2.43pm.

The hearing was told the pair had been in a “long-standing relationship” together but had split up some time before. Pc Austin had then embarked on another relationship with a female police officer.

Miss X allegedly confessed to her present partner - Mr Y - about having sex with Pc Austin and also contacted his new girlfriend - known as Pc B.

The hearing was told an argument erupted at a theatre during a Jimmy Carr concert after Miss X saw Pc Austin with Pc B.

A complaint was eventually lodged with Sussex Police by a friend of Miss X to whom she had confided.

Her claims were backed by Miss X’s boyfriend who had a 45-minute call with Pc Austin in which the officer allegedly confessed to having sex with his former partner.

Police investigation

An investigation was launched by Sussex Police and during two interviews with Miss X on December 2 and 8 she claimed she had sex with Pc Austin at her house.

She also said he had failed to respond to a call on his radio because they were having sex.

Doorbell footage and phone mapping puts Pc Austin at Miss X’s home but he claims he was only there for 13 minutes.

However, the panel was told Miss X suffered from serious mental health issues - including severe depression - and had since retracted her claims.

Miss X has also refused to attend the disciplinary hearing citing her frail mental health.

Eloise Emanuel, lawyer for Pc Austin, said Miss X retracted her claims because they were untrue.

She said Miss X made the allegations because she was “hurt and angry” after Pc Austin had turned down her invitation to rekindle their relationship.

Ms Emanuel made an application to dismiss her evidence, but this was rejected by the disciplinary panel.

The hearing continues.