A misconduct hearing has concluded that a former Cumbria police trainee constable who downloaded illegal images of children while employed by the force would have been dismissed had he not resigned from his post.
Last month, 35-year-old Thomas Aiston appeared at Carlisle Magistrates Court where he admitted making indecent photographs which showed youngsters being sexually abused.
His offending occurred between November last year and April, just months after he had joined Cumbria Constabulary.
Aiston was brought to justice after fellow officers on the force received information from external law enforcement.
The father-of-two was formally arrested and interviewed, and the court heard how illegal images were discovered after a number of devices were examined.
A district judge heard these had been saved to a private folder.
Aiston was handed a community order comprising rehabilitation work, was fined and told he must sign the sex offenders’ register for five years.
Aiston, latterly of Bowland Drive, Kendal, had been suspended following his arrest and later handed in his notice.
At an accelerated Cumbria police misconduct hearing on Thursday, Assistant Chief Officer Sarah Jackson concluded that Aiston’s the seriousness of his misconducted was without question at the highest level.
“Mr Aiston’s conduct was wholly indefensible is not reflective of the highest standards expected from the public,” the assistant chief officer concluded.
“Mr Aiston could never be trusted to protect the public, especially those who are at most vulnerable of harm. There is no question that his conduct amounted to gross misconduct.”
It was formally found that ex-officer Aiston would have been dismissed had he not resigned.
A direction was made that his name should be added to the College of Policing barred list.
Aiston was not present at the hearing, was not represented and had not responded to a regulation 51 notice informing him of imminent disciplinary proceedings.
