SEVEN officers have been dismissed from the West Mercia Police since 2018 for crimes and misconduct including sexual offences. 

Three were retrospectively dismissed for offences relating to sexual misconduct, while other crimes included theft and common assault. 

Here's a full list of all the officers dismissed, along with the reasons for their dismissal:

Gary Brennan

Disgraced officer Gary Brennan resigned after 17 years in the force. 

He admitted taking inappropriate photos of himself on his work phone while on duty.

Brennan, from Telford, also pleaded guilty to using the force's systems to contact women whilst working for West Mercia Police.

He was retrospectively dismissed in October 2018 and found guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office in September 2020.

Leighton Phillips

Phillips, from Market Drayton police station, was charged with two counts of sexual touching on a female under 16.

It happened while the former officer was off duty on a train in March last year and was investigated by British Transport Police after a public complaint.

Phillips was retrospectively dismissed from the force on October 14, 2020, and just a day later he was sentenced to a 24-month community order, 20 days of rehabilitation and a three-month curfew.

He was also made to sign the sex offenders register for 5 years and placed on the College Of Policing Barred List.

James Walters

PC Walters was the most recent dismissal from the force having been relieved of his duties in July 2021 for gross misconduct.

He was found to guilty of abusing his position for sexual purposes following an internal referral. 

Andrew Wright

Wright, who had completed 20 years' service as a constable, was proven to have ignored several reported incidents that involved vulnerable females who had been victims of a domestic assaults, including one in Malvern.

Wright was dismissed in September 2018 after an investigation was launched following a public complaint.

Laura Lawson

Lawson was found guilty of using unreasonable force on a 17-year-old boy and two others during a disturbance in Rugby on April 16, 2017.

She pleaded guilty to common assault at Worcester Crown Court on October 29, 2018, and was sentenced to a three-month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, a three-month curfew order and was made to pay costs.

At a special hearing held in May 2019 Lawson was retrospectively dismissed from the force.

Matt Hodgson

Hodgson was dismissed from the West Mercia Police after being convicted of theft. 

A Detective Sargeant who had 22-years' experience in the force, Hodgson stole gloves and trousers from Dave Mellor Cycles in early 2019.

He had also attempted to take a pair of trainers from Go Outdoors.

The hearing heard how Hodgson's life had become "chaos" after separating from his wife, and he had even taken to sleeping in his office.

He was dismissed in February last year following a public complaint.

Robert Hall

Hall was retrospectively dismissed six-months after resigning for boasting on Radio One about giving his ex-wife a fake art print during their divorce in 2012.

He served with West Mercia Police for 16 years and finished his career at the rank of Detective Constable based in Telford.

A gross misconduct hearing held in April 2019 found that Hall had breached "honesty and integrity" standards and committed "discreditable conduct".

He was officially dismissed on April 9, 2019.

Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “I want to reassure our communities that we expect the very highest standards from our officers and staff; any instance which falls short is taken very seriously. "We will not tolerate inappropriate or unlawful behaviour, or conduct that damages the trust and confidence the public have in West Mercia Police. 

“We encourage both the public and our workforce to report any concerns they may have regarding the organisation or individuals within it.  The misconduct processes highlighted here, were as a direct result of issues raised through our reporting mechanisms. 

“The overwhelming majority of police officers and staff come to work every day with the intention and commitment to keeping the public safe, preventing and detecting crime and being proud of the public service they deliver. 

“We are working alongside colleagues nationally to ensure our professional standards and vetting procedures are robust and that we are implementing any learning and recommendations from recent events.”