A boozy night out involving Kent Police workers ended with a senior officer facing disciplinary charges.

Alex Jones and 19 other officers and civilian workers hit the town after a successful fun run and to celebrate a colleague’s birthday.

But a three-day disciplinary hearing this week heard that the night ended with on-duty officers being called to the Travelodge in St Peter’s Street, Maidstone, amid reports of aggressive and abusive behaviour.

However, the gross misconduct case against Insp Jones, who had been an officer with Kent Police for 26 years, soon collapsed.

Sarah Ellis, barrister for the police authority, advised the three-person panel she was unable to call three of her witnesses – including the hotel's security guard – and therefore could not support a number of the accusations.

The panel decided to proceed on a lesser charge of discreditable behaviour as the inspector had not left the hotel when requested by the security guard. He was found guilty of this charge.

They heard that three civilian staff – Emma Streets, Sadie Martin and Rosie Carpenter – had booked the hotel room.

Insp Jones was among a party of six or seven who met up in the early evening in their hotel room for a drink before going into town.

Later someone suggested buying kebabs and reconvening in the women’s room to eat them and continue drinking.

But when Insp Jones arrived with Sadie Martin, at around 1.30am, the hotel’s security officer objected because no guests were allowed in rooms after 10.30pm and the room had been booked for only three people.

Police were then called.

Insp Jones was initially accused of using “inappropriate force” on the security guard, of failing to challenge the behaviour of junior members of staff which was alleged to be abusive towards hotel staff, and failing to co-operate with uniformed officers.

The hearing heard Insp Jones had started his career as a bobby on the beat, working his way up through the ranks, being custody sergeant at Maidstone police station to a temporary inspector rank in the firearms command and finally becoming inspector in tactical command.

The panel heard evidence from Emma Streets and from PCs Robert Fagg and Peter Luckovicky, who attended the incident in October, and watched video from PC Fagg's body-worn camera.

Ben Brandon, representing Insp Jones, said although two of the women had been drunk and high-spirited, there was no evidence they had been abusive or threatening. The panel agreed and struck out the charge that Insp Jones had failed to challenge inappropriate behaviour.

They also heard evidence that Insp Jones had been quiet and calm.

Insp Michelle Whitehead, now retired, attended the incident after the constables advised her it was “sensitive” as it involved police staff.

But although she appeared as a witness for the prosecution, she admitted that she could not say that Insp Jones was drunk.

Yin Jones, chairman of the police misconduct hearing at the Kent Police headquarters in Sutton Road, Maidstone, gave the panel’s verdict that no further action should be taken.

Insp Jones, who had been suspended for almost a year since the incident, was restored to duty.