Police officer ‘missed 999 call on radio as he was having sex with ex-girlfriend while on duty’
A POLICE officer missed a 999 call on his radio as he was having sex with his ex-girlfriend while on duty, a tribunal heard.
PC Steven Austin is accused of bedding the woman, named as Miss X, during the day despite being on shift at the time.
He missed a Grade 1 emergency call on his radio about a store manager that had been repeatedly punched in a robbery.
The owner was chasing the suspect – meaning the incident needed an immediate police response as there could have been a danger to life.
A tribunal heard one of Austin’s colleagues from Sussex Police unsuccessfully tried four times to reach the cop.
He now faces loses his job is found guilty of breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour.
The charge states he attended a private property while on duty for just over an hour with no policing purpose.
While there, Austin is accused of engaging in sexual relations with Miss X and failing to respond to a Grade 1 call.
The tribunal heard the alleged incident took place on November 23, 2021, after Austin invited himself to Miss X’s home.
The pair had been in a “long-standing relationship” together but had split up some time before – with Austin moving on with another female police officer.
Miss X is said to have told her new partner about the alleged romp and also contacted Austin’s girlfriend, PC B.
A row later erupted at a Jimmy Carr concert when she saw her ex with PC B.
Miss X confided in a pal, who told Sussex Police – leading to an investigation.
The claims were backed by her new boyfriend, who alleged Austin had confessed to having sex with Miss X in a 45-minute phonecall.
Doorbell footage and phone mapping puts Austin at her home, but he claims he was only there for 13 minutes.
The panel was told Miss X suffers from serious mental health issues – including severe depression – and has since retracted her claims.
Eloise Emanuel, for Austin, said Miss X later retracted her claims because they were untrue.
She also claimed Miss X made the allegations up because she was “hurt and angry” after he turned down her invitation to rekindle their relationship.
Ms Emanuel made an application to dismiss her evidence, which was rejected by the disciplinary panel.
Austin denies the allegations against him. The hearing continues.