Female police officer, 44, who had sex on duty with victim launches appeal after being banned from the force

A female police officer who was forced to quit her job after having sex on duty with a crime victim is fighting against the bosses who sacked her.

PC Andrea Griffiths, 44, was set to face a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct after she was found to be having a fling with a man she was supposed to be looking after.

The force said she would have been sacked if she had not quit her job. They put her on a banned list of former officers not allowed to work in the police again.

But the ex-cop is now appealing the decision against her ban after winning a case to have the hearing held ‘behind closed doors’.

A panel heard PC Griffiths began a relationship with the man who was a victim of a sexual offences and was ‘vulnerable’.

She was accused of having sex with him both on and off-duty, but PC Griffiths said she only had sex with the man – known as Mr X – once.

North Wales Police presenting officer Amy Clarke, said: ‘She developed an inappropriate personal relationship with a vulnerable male who she was responsible for in 2015.

‘Miss Griffiths was tasked with being liaison officer and engaged in sexual activity with him. She agreed further that sexual activity happened on duty.’

Miss Clarke said PC Griffiths joined the police in 2001 and was managing the man because he was an alleged victim of historic sexual offences.

PC Griffiths admitted gross misconduct at the hearing at North Wales Police headquarters in Colwyn Bay.

A statement from PC Griffiths said: ‘I recognise I shouldn’t have had sexual contact with Mr X on June 29, 2015. I accept gross misconduct and deeply regret that it happened.

‘To avoid further embarrassment to everyone I have resigned forthwith from North Wales Police.’

PC Griffiths was accused of having an ‘inappropriate association’ with the man which later ‘developed into an inappropriate sexual liaison both on and off duty’.

The professional standards hearing was told she had ‘fallen below professional standards of integrity, authority and courtesy’ and shown ‘discreditable conduct’.

Panel chair Susan Davies said: ‘PC Griffiths knew of Mr X’s personal and medical issues while she took part in that sexual activity, whilst on duty.

‘She breached standards of honesty and integrity, specifically integrity. She behaved in way that was discreditable to North Wales Police.

‘We found that conduct so serious that dismissal would be justified and therefore amounts to gross misconduct.’

The former PC is now fighting a ruling that if she had not resigned she would have been sacked.

But now, a tribunal hearing has started with the press and public excluded at the North Wales Police headquarters in Colwyn Bay against the panel’s finding that she would have been dismissed if she hadn’t quit.

Ms Griffiths lawyer asked for the appeal hearing to be held in private. The request was granted ahead of what is scheduled to be a three-day hearing.

Chairman of the panel Michael Caplan KC said: ‘We have considered relevant medical evidence and have decided after careful consideration for the hearing to be in private. In due course our decision, but not necessarily all the reasons, will be given in public.’