A police officer has quit after sending ‘appalling’ homophobic and racist messages to colleagues.
PC Michael Hill resigned from Gwent Police in Wales just hours before he faced the sack over misconduct allegations.
He sent messages including one saying that Asian people ‘eat dogs’ and another that they ‘stink of curry’.
The then PC also referred to gay men as ‘poo pirates’ and called a security guard a ‘mong’ and a ‘retard’.
A panel heard he would have been sacked for gross misconduct, and he has now been banned from working in any police force.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's newsletter or get alerts the moment it happens.
Hill made offensive jokes and slurs about gay people and Asians in a string of messages sent to another person named only as Person A.
It was alleged he also mentioned turning off his bodycam so he could beat someone.
Panel chair Assistant Chief Constable John Wade said: ‘The texts found on this former officer’s phone are appalling and inappropriate.
‘The nature of what is contained within these messages is a severe departure from how the public would expect a serving police officer to communicate with another person.
‘Our communities rightfully expect their officers to conduct themselves in a proper way whether on or off duty and this former officer has failed in that regard.’
Mr Wade said the force had agreed to take on the misconduct process even though many of the allegations pre-dated Hill’s time with Gwent Police in South Wales.
He said: ‘Although many of the 19 allegations pre-date his time serving with Gwent Police, we agreed with his former service to take on the misconduct process and deal with him.
‘This ensures that someone who has proved themselves to be incompatible with the duties and responsibilities of a police officer is prevented from returning to policing.
‘Our work continues to improve culture, trust and confidence within the service but also to strengthen and improve our processes around vetting, ensuring that we have the right people working for us who want to make a difference for the public.’
Hill was immediately dismissed in his absence and will shortly be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.
MORE: Woman fled home after sexual abuser released from prison showed up at her window
MORE: Worker who fell 30 feet from pylon after safety line error wins £10,000,000 payout