A WEST Mercia Police Sergeant has been dismissed after being found guilty of drink-driving.

On Friday, January 30 Stephen Saunders, who has served with the force for the past 13 years, was convicted of driving with excess alcohol in Bromsgrove on Monday, September 22 last year.

Following the sentence the 51-year-old from Alcester faced an internal disciplinary process and was dismissed with immediate effect on Friday, March 13.

West Mercia’s head of professional standards Detective Superintendent Mark Loader said: "The Special Case Hearing found that the behaviour of Mr Saunders fell below the standards we expect from our officers and staff and amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

“This fell outside the expectations made clear in our Code of Ethics and it is for this reason he was dismissed."

As with any special case hearing Mr Saunders, who was suspended from his duties as a Safer Neighbourhood Team officer in Bromsgrove but later returned to restricted duties, is free to appeal against his dismissal.

When Mr Saunders appeared at Leamington Spa Magistrates Court to answer the charge on Wednesday, October 8 he pleaded not guilty. He also denied two counts of common assault, but these were later dropped as no evidence was presented.

He was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £790 and was also ordered to pay £600 costs and a £79 victim surcharge.

The outcomes of all West Mercia Police misconduct proceedings are published on a quarterly basis at www.westmercia.police.uk.