A POLICE officer who faced a misconduct panel has learnt his fate.

PC Stuart Ayling appeared at a public misconduct hearing as part of the police's disciplinary process.

It came after allegations he shared private police intelligence with a member of the public and shared it on social media.

South Cumbria-based PC Ayling faced the possibility of being sacked if the panel deemed his behaviour to have amounted to gross misconduct.

Following the hearing at Cumbria Police headquarters, PC Ayling was given a final written warning.

The hearing was told the officer forwarded a police intelligence bulletin marked ‘official’ from his work’s e-mail account to his private e-mail account and then to the private e-mail account of a member of the public.

PC Ayling was said to have then posted the bulletin onto a Facebook group.

He is said to have breached the constabulary’s standards of professional behaviour relating to duties and responsibilities, confidentiality and discreditable conduct.

The panel was led by a legally qualified chair, assisted by an officer of superintendent rank and an independent lay person.

If PC Ayling was found to have committed gross misconduct the panel had four sanctions available to them: issuing management advice, a written warning, a final written warning or instant dismissal with notice.

The case was held in public due to new legislation introduced in 2015.

Police said: “All misconduct hearings should now be held in public to improve transparency and accountability and ensure public confidence.”

Earlier this year Barrow-based PC Matt Simpson was sacked for gross misconduct after visiting a woman for secret regular sexual ‘trysts’ while on duty following his own appearance at a misconduct hearing.