North Yorkshire PC Simon Ryan says wearing 'I love weed hat' was 'puerile'

A police officer wore a woolly hat with the words "I love weed" while on dutyand defaced a suspect's CV with the words "paedo" during an investigation into allegations of child abuse, a disciplinary hearing has been told.

North Yorkshire Police officer Pc Simon Ryan denies gross misconduct but has apologised, claiming his "puerile" behaviour was intended to "leaven" the mood of colleagues.

The hearing at the police headquarters is the first disciplinary the force hasheld where the public and press are allowed to attend, watching proceedings via a videolink.

Edward Pleeth, representing the force, said the officer searched a homefollowing an allegation of a sexual offence involving a child in January 2015.

He took a copy of the occupant's CV from a pile and wrote words to the effect of "paedophile" and "paedo", Mr Pleeth said.

Under "interests", Pc Ryan amended the CV to say "abusing children", thehearing was told.

He then showed the CV to colleagues, did not record it as evidence and later destroyed it in the confidential waste at Northallerton Police Station.

Ten days later he was on duty when he wore a hat with a cannabis logo and the message "I love weed", both in the office and while on patrol.

The hat had been given to him by his 26-year-old stepson. Guy Ladenburg, for the officer said when PC Ryan wore it, he was not seen by any member of the public and was in the dark.

The independently-chaired panel adjourned to consider the gross misconduct allegation.