Jailed police officer committed gross misconduct

A former police constable jailed after he admitted having inappropriate relationships with two vulnerable women would have been sacked had he still been working for the force.

Nicholas Fielding-Smith, 42, who was based at Thames Valley Police (TVP) headquarters in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, formed relationships with the women while working in Berkshire.

Fielding-Smith was jailed for 22 months in October after admitting two counts of misconduct in a public office and another of computer misuse.

At a hearing on Friday, TVP's Chief Constable Jason Hogg found Fielding-Smith's actions amounted to gross misconduct and ordered his name is included on the College of Policing's barred list.

Fielding-Smith, who is serving time at HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire, met one woman after she was assaulted and they had an intermittent sexual relationship over nine years.

He interviewed the other as a suspect in a harassment case and, after she was not prosecuted, contacted her by text message and they had an 11-month relationship.