A former police constable who groped a number of women on a night out in Canterbury has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

Barney Heaton, 26, was at nightclub The Cuban with fellow student officers on November 24 last year when colleagues saw him "touching several women on their bottom" – before causing a woman visible distress by grabbing at her crotch.

Mr Heaton chose not to attend a misconduct hearing at Kent Police headquarters in Maidstone this morning, at which a panel met to decide if he had breached the standards of professional behaviour.

Describing the night in question, prosecuting counsel Edward Pleeth said: "A number of students had arranged to spend a social evening out in Canterbury.

"The group had been for a meal and had consumed alcohol at various places. They described PC Heaton as becoming increasingly intoxicated, and his behaviour becoming increasingly concerning.

"The officers reported seeing PC Heaton behave in an inappropriate manner to both males and females, including touching several women on their bottom."

During the course of the evening, PC Heaton was confronted by a colleague about his behaviour, but continued to act in an inappropriate manner on the club's dance floor.

"This culminated in an incident in which PC Heaton was seen to reach around to the front of a female and make a pince-like grab at her crotch, causing her distress," continued Mr Pleeth.

The woman is said to have pushed Mr Heaton away. Other members of the group then apologised to her, before leaving The Cuban.

The following day, Mr Heaton's peers reported his behaviour to officials at Kent Police College in Maidstone. An investigation into the allegations began in December, and on June 12 this year, Mr Heaton resigned from the police service.

During the investigation, Mr Heaton denied any inappropriate behaviour. He also claimed a "bad feeling" between some members of his peer group could have led to the allegations being made.

Mr Heaton - who began as a student officer in August last year - had been in his role for just over three months when the incident at The Cuban took place.

At today's misconduct hearing, a panel including William Hansen and Chief Superintendent Julia Chapman found Mr Heaton guilty of gross misconduct, and decided to take disciplinary action against him.

But as Mr Heaton has already resigned from his job the panel could only conclude that, had he not done so, he would have been dismissed as a result of his actions.

Chair Mr Hansen said: "We find that ex-police constable Heaton has clearly breached standards of professional behaviour. He has lost all self control in a public place, and this undermines public confidence in the police service.

"We would have dismissed Mr Heaton, if he had still been a member of the force."

Despite the result of today's hearing, no criminal investigation is being carried out into Mr Heaton's behaviour.

On this subject, police spokesman Steve Knight said: "Police carried out a full and thorough investigation into alleged sexual offences committed at a bar in Canterbury on Friday, November 24 2017 including a review of all available CCTV footage and talking to witnesses.

"However, as no victims could be identified there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a criminal investigation."