A married TV copper who had an "affair" with a "vulnerable" colleague is facing the sack after allegedly telling her to cover up their sexual relationship.

PC Paul Faulkner, who is known by Channel 5 Police Interceptors fans by his nickname Mustard, faces the prospect of being fired for gross misconduct by Cleveland Police after the conclusion of a misconduct hearing.

The police officer was part of Durham and Cleveland Road Policing Unit which catapulted him into the limelight of the popular Channel 5 show between 2015 and 2018.

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PC Faulkner became a firm favourite with fans, even signing autographs in the centre of Durham.

In the hearing, the dad admitted he was in a sexual relationship with "Police Officer A", a woman he had first met when she was at the centre of Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

He had initially offered support to “Police Officer A” during a "difficult time", he first kissed her in her car after they had met at Hardwick Park for coffee.

Misconduct proceedings have heard that the pair, who were both married, met when Police Officer A's federation representative asked if PC Faulkner could observe the meeting where she was handed gross misconduct papers.

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He contacted her later that night on social media and offered his support and handed her his personal phone number.

The former Police Interceptor star denies that he breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to discreditable conduct by engaging in the sexual relationship with PC A.

The Northern Echo: PC Paul Faulkner. Picture: CHANNEL 5PC Paul Faulkner. Picture: CHANNEL 5

He also says the allegation, which is accepted, that he failed to act with honesty and integrity by lying to the federation branch chairman and secretary amounts only to misconduct rather than gross misconduct.

The tribunal heard how PC Faulkner had told her his "marriage was dead" and he was only in it for "the kids and the house". It's alleged that the married dad told PC A that if asked she should lie about their relationship, with the woman telling the panel: "He said he would get in trouble.

"He said I should know how much trouble I should get into. I loved him, why would I want to get him in trouble."

The misconduct hearing continues.

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