A former North Yorkshire Police officer touched the breasts of a vulnerable woman he met on duty and discussed the possibility of forging a relationship with her.

PC Chris Bolton also exchanged sexual images with the woman, a misconduct hearing heard.

The hearing heard that PC Bolton interacted with the woman, known as Ms A, between August 13, 2020 and November 24, 2020,

He was also found to have dishonestly re-scored a risk assessment relating to Ms A on or around August 23.

The hearing took place at North Yorkshire Police headquarters in Northallerton last week. The panel concluded that the allegations had been proved and amounted to gross misconduct.

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It found PC Bolton breached standards for discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, honesty and integrity and duties and responsibilities.

The panel concluded that, had Mr Bolton still been serving with North Yorkshire Police, he would have been dismissed.

It also ruled he will be placed on the College of Policing barred and advisory list.

Individuals remain on the list indefinitely, unless they win an appeal against their dismissal or make a successful review application, where they would have to provide clear evidence as to why they were now suitable to re-join policing.

North Yorkshire Police declined to reply to a question from the Stray Ferret asking where PC Bolton was based.