A former Met police officer who kissed and followed a colleague to her room would have been sacked had he not already resigned.

PC Andrew McCarthy was found to have acted inappropriately towards a female officer while they were out in Gravesend after work, in June 2021.

A police misconduct hearing concluded he had breached the standards of professional behaviour and his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

Former PC McCarthy resigned from the force last year while an investigation into his conduct was still ongoing.

However, the legally qualified chairman who conducted his misconduct hearing deemed that if he had still been a serving police officer he would have been dismissed without notice.

Detective chief superintendent charman Brenyah said “The behaviour of former PC McCarthy is disgraceful and has no place in the Metropolitan Police.

“While he decided to resign while this investigation was ongoing, his actions have been called out for what they were and he would have been dismissed if still serving.”

McCarthy has been added to the barred list held by the College of Policing meaning he cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies, the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.