A former police officer who assaulted a female colleague and resisted arrest would have been sacked if he had not resigned, a disciplinary hearing ruled.

Former Police Constable Christopher Tingate had committed two offences while he was off duty, a gross misconduct special case hearing at Durham Police headquarters was told yesterday (Tuesday, July 25).

The 33-year-old appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court in May charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker (a female PC) and obstructing or resisting arrest by another female PC on April 2.  

He pleaded guilty to both offences and was ordered to pay a fine of £400 and compensation of £150. He also had to pay £85 court costs and a £160 surcharge.

Tingate, who resigned from the force days later, chose not to attend yesterday's misconduct hearing.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell considered the available evidence and found the matter proved as gross misconduct.

She determined that, had former Tingate still been a serving police officer, he would have been dismissed without notice.

In a finding published after the hearing, Chief Const Farrell said: “While the case has not received the highest levels of public attention, it is still serious.

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“The public would rightly not have expected a police officer to behave in the manner Mr Tingate did while off duty.

“And the public would rightly be concerned about an officer who has been convicted of a violent offence – the assault by beating – remaining in the ranks. Particularly given that the assault was against a fellow officer doing her job.”

The former officer will now be placed onto the 'barred list' preventing him from working in policing again.