An officer has been sacked by Essex Police at a special case hearing today (Monday, November 2) for breaching standards of professional behaviour.

Pc Jonathan Williams was found to have committed gross misconduct and was dismissed at the hearing at Harlow County Court without notice.

Chaired by Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh, the hearing was told Pc Williams, who was based at Southend, had sent racist and homophobic text messages and had also made offensive remarks towards a woman known to him.

Pc Williams, who did not attend the hearing, also failed to engage with the investigation into his alleged misconduct.

Mr Kavanagh said: “Members of the public turn to the police when they are at their most vulnerable.

“They have every right to expect us to deal with them with respect, irrespective of their sexuality, gender, religion or colour.

“The trust and confidence of all communities must be maintained and every right-minded individual would be disgusted to hear the appalling comments made by Pc Williams as an Essex Police officer.

“The community will look to us as an organisation as to how we hold ourselves to account when an officer behaves in such an abhorrent manner.

“There is no place in Essex Police for a person who has such attitudes.”