A FORMER Bolton policeman has been sacked for attempting to kiss a woman at her home.

In 2011, following a trial, PC Gareth Roscoe was cleared of sexually assaulting a drunken 19-year-old at Bolton Police Station.

PC Roscoe had been accused of touching the teenager's breast and trying to kiss her in a private interview room at the station. He was also accused of suggesting he would help her boyfriend in some way if she went along with it.

But the jury dismissed the claims after hearing there were a number of inconsistencies in her account.

However, 33-year-old Roscoe, from Leyland, faced fresh allegations about his behaviour in October 2016.

An investigation carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission in March 2017 found that he had acted inappropriately towards a woman and his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

PC Roscoe had been attending an incident in Heywood when he met the woman and went into her home after asking her to make him a hot drink.

Investigators found, a short time later, he tried to kiss the woman, only leaving the property after he was contacted, via his radio, by the police control room, to attend another incident.

Greater Manchester Police agreed with the IPCC findings and in December 2017 he was given a final written warning following a hearing by an independent panel.

However, the decision was challenged in the High Court, which agreed that the disciplinary hearing should be reopened.

The panel resumed its deliberations and Greater Manchester Police have now confirmed that PC Roscoe was sacked in July.

In a statement, Det Chief Supt Jon Chadwick said: "“Following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into allegations of abuse of position for a sexual purpose by a police officer whilst on-duty, GMP held a public misconduct hearing which concluded in December 2017.

“An independent panel found the officers’ actions had amounted to gross misconduct and he was given a final written warning.

“The outcome of this was challenged and GMP supported a judicial review into the panel’s decision and as a result the High Court ordered that the hearing resumed.

“On Wednesday 10 July 2019 as a result of the independent panel’s findings, PC Gareth Roscoe has been dismissed from the Force with immediate effect.

“The public rightly expects the conduct of police officers to be exemplary and this type of conduct discredits the police service and is completely against all of the values and standards expected of a police officer.”