AN POLICE officer who was convicted of drink-driving has been sacked from the force.
Stephen Patrick Saunders, of Roman Way, Alcester, was found guilty of driving with excess alcohol following a trial at Leamington Magistrates’ Court back in January.
The 51-year-old was further charged with two counts of common assault but the case was dropped due to the prosecution offering no evidence.
The sergeant, who worked for Bromsgrove Safer Neighbourhood Team at the time of the offence, blew 79 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath on September 22 last year following an incident in the town.
He was arrested and charged the following day and denied the offences when he appeared at a preliminary hearing in October.
He was previously suspended from his duties following the incident but was then allowed to return to West Mercia Police on restricted duties.
Following a Special Case Hearing last Friday, March 13, he was dismissed with immediate effect.
Det Supt Mark Loader, head of professional standards, said: “The Special Case Hearing found the behaviour of Mr Saunders fell below the standards we expect from our officers and staff and amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour. This fell outside the expectations made clear in our Code of Ethics and it is for this reason he was dismissed.”
The outcome of the Special Case Hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.
