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Former Kent Police officer Nathan O'Hara banned from serving again by Chief Constable Alan Pughsley as misconduct hearing told of stalking conviction

A former police officer convicted of stalking a woman has been struck off from serving in any force ever again.

Nathan O'Hara, an ex-constable based at Northfleet police station, was jailed for eight weeks in October after pleading guilty to the charge in court.

The hearing took place virtually with the chief constable presiding from Kent Police Headquarters in Northfleet
The hearing took place virtually with the chief constable presiding from Kent Police Headquarters in Northfleet

But with the criminal case concluded, a professional standards investigation into O'Hara's conduct has been carried out by Kent Police.

A virtual hearing presided over by Chief Constable Alan Pughsley at force headquarters in Northfleet today found O'Hara's actions amounted to gross misconduct.

The former officer, who resigned from the force on September 4 before the criminal proceedings, did not attend in person and admitted gross misconduct prior to the hearing.

Describing O'Hara's actions as "outrageous and completely unacceptable" for any member of the public, Chief Constable Pughsley said this had been "magnified and aggravated" by the fact he was a serving police officer at the time.

He added if O'Hara had not have already resigned, which he also said was not a mitigating factor in the case, he would have been dismissed without notice.

Chief Constable Alan Pughsley oversaw the hearing into O'Hara's gross misconduct
Chief Constable Alan Pughsley oversaw the hearing into O'Hara's gross misconduct

The chief constable concluded O'Hara would be placed on the "barred list without delay", meaning he will never serve in the police or any law enforcement agency again.

"As a police officer, it was his job to protect the public and uphold the law," Mr Pughsley said.

"He has done the complete opposite and become the offender.

"The public could no longer have any trust or confidence in him as a police officer and could not be trusted to uphold the law. He cannot protect the public any longer.

"His conviction is totally unacceptable for a police officer and my finding can only be one of gross misconduct."

The hearing was told O'Hara had stalked a woman known to him for several months including bombarding the victim with 120 withheld phone calls and leaving notes and gifts on her car outside her home.

"His conviction is totally unacceptable for a police officer and my finding can only be one of gross misconduct..."

This had caused the victim "serious alarm and distress" which had led to her suffering an "adverse effect in carrying out her usual day to day activity", the chief constable said.

Presenting the case on behalf of Kent Police, Det Supt John Phillips from the force's professional standards department said O'Hara's conviction would reduce public confidence in the force and undermined his ability to be a "professional witness in domestic abuse cases" in future.

While on bail for the stalking charge, the hearing was told O'Hara was arrested a second time for intimidating a witness and he was subsequently held on remand until the court appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Alongside the prison sentence handed down by magistrates, O'Hara was also given a five-year restraining order.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Ch Supt Jon Armory, head of professional standards at Kent Police, said: "The most fundamental duty of any police officer is to protect people from harm, a duty O’Hara completely betrayed.

"As soon as the offences were reported, immediate steps were taken to remove him from his duties and ensure he faced justice.

"Those who fall short of these standards will always face action..."

"His actions are in no way a reflection of the wider conduct of our officers and staff and the vast majority of people working within Kent Police do an outstanding job serving the public in line with the highest standards of professionalism and conduct. Those who fall short of these standards will always face action."

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