A married police sergeant who sent “sexually explicit” text messages to a young woman applying to join the force has avoided dismissal.

Ross Shearing, 39, breached Kent Police’s standards of professional behaviour, which amounted to gross misconduct, a hearing at the force's Maidstone headquarters found.

During a home visit to an applicant in Tunbridge Wells in August 2016 - a standard part of the recruitment process - Sgt Shearing was complimented by the woman on his aftershave when opening the door, which then set the tone for a "flirtatious" conversation, the hearing was told.

He left his mobile number with her and the pair then exchanged text messages, which escalated in tone to what they both described in evidence as “sexual”.

These messages included a photo of her bottom, covered by her underwear, after she joked to him that she "wasn't wearing my good bum jeans" during the interview, but the communication stopped after two days when the applicant asked him to delete the messages, which he did.

Further messages were sent following two chance meetings in November 2016 and February 2017, but these were also later deleted.

Sgt Shearing, who was head boy at Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford before beginning a 14-year career with the police, had been suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following an incident on the job in 2011, which saw him hit by a car.

His marriage had also suffered problems which led to him and his wife discussing separation around the time of the home visit.

"I wasn’t in a good place and the attention flattered me," Sgt Shearing told the hearing.

"It was not my intention to pursue a sexual relationship with her. It was flirtatious banter that was going to stay within the realms of text messaging."

Panel chairman William Hansen concluded his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, telling the hearing: “He was a sergeant in a position of trust and responsibility, carrying out the important function of a home visit.

“He was on duty, in uniform, visiting a potential candidate and a member of the public in her own home. It was not the time or place for exchanges of this kind.”

However, Mr Hansen added that Sgt Shearing had "an otherwise exemplary record" as an officer and that other mitigating factors warranted issuing him with a final written warning, rather than dismissal.

He concluded by telling the officer: "I hope you will go on and have a distinguished career."