An ‘arrogant’ police officer has been given his final warning at work after he tried to barge past two ticket inspectors who stopped him at a train barrier.
Police were called after PC Joshua Williams, 29, became ‘aggressive’ and ‘swore a lot’ when the pair questioned his ticket at Leicester Square Tube Station in central London.
He admitted gross misconduct after he ‘physically manoeuvred’ past the inspectors while off-duty on the first-day of a four-day misconduct hearing.
The officer faced being sacked but has today been told he can keep his job following a professional standards hearing at Biggleswade Town Council in Bedfordshire.
Magistrates convicted him of using ‘abusive and offensive language’ slamming his behaviour on January 23 last year as ‘arrogant uncompromising and confrontational’.
PC Joshua Williams ‘became aggressive and swore a lot’ when ticket inspectors stopped him about his ticket at Leicester Square Tube Station (pictured) in January last year
He admitted ‘physically manoeuvring’ the officers but denied ‘barging’ past the two inspectors before a misconduct panel.
The panel heard PC Williams went through the barriers at the busy tube station, despite officers trying to stop him.
The hearing was told he said to the officers that he too was a policeman during the incident, having previously accepted his actions ‘breached professional standards under authority’.
The 29-year-old, based at Huntingdon Police Station, admitted gross misconduct after Cambridgeshire Constabulary dropped an allegation he had not shown ‘honesty and integrity’.
Colin Banham, representing him, said: ‘He clearly put himself in a position that day where he acted, I’ve not doubt he would accept himself, fairly disgracefully.
‘It may have been in light of provocation, it may have been that he was wishing to continue his day which was up to that a fairly joyous occasion with friends in London.
‘He accepts and has accepted that he acted inappropriately.
‘He also has shown clear remorse. That’s one step certainly for this being a learning experience for him.
‘It does seem this is an isolated piece of misconduct fully attributed to misjudgment.’
He admitted gross misconduct after he ‘physically manoeuvred’ past the inspectors while off-duty at the train station in central London (pictured)
He said Chief Superintendent Chris Mead’s character statement for the PC demonstrated ‘how much the officer has learnt, how much he has matured as a result, and it says he himself has recognised this.’
The panel heard PC Williams, of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, also ran the force’s football team, as well as a youth team to ‘give back to his community’ after joining the force in 2011.
PC Williams said: ‘I’m deeply apologetic for how I dealt with the situation and this has had a huge impact on my career and also my family and friends.
‘If allowed to continue my career within the police and I will not be putting myself or the constabulary in a similar position.’
He was put on restricted duties, only allowed to deal with paperwork.
He added: ‘Since the incident I have continued to work, I’ve continued my work ethic and tried to offer as much as I can despite my restrictions.
PC Williams had been acquitted on appeal of allegations under criminal by-laws that he ‘pushed’ past the inspectors and his friends had started a ‘melee’.
PC Joshua Williams is based at Huntingdon Police Station (pictured) in Cambridgeshire. He has been allowed to keep his job but is on his final warning