A police officer has avoided the sack after telling colleagues he called a cab driver black and swore at him before mimicking his accent.

PC James Quinn was hauled in front of a police misconduct hearing panel over inappropriate remarks he made on patrol in March.

The 54-year-old's defence counsel, Richard Atchley, claimed it appeared to be a "shockingly bad attempt at humour".

PC Quinn was on night patrol in Maidstone with four other officers when he got out of their van to speak to the taxi driver whose car was blocking the road.

After getting back in, another officer asked him he gave the driver a "hard time," to which he said he called him black followed by an extremely offensive swear word.

He then did an impression of the taxi driver allegedly saying "sorry, sorry" in a South Asian or Indian accent after being asked about the man's response.

When asked if he actually insulted the cabby he said no. By all witness accounts this was true.

PC Quinn admitted yesterday making the remark but argued it did not amount to gross misconduct - meaning the incident would be a fireable offence.

While he did not make the comments to the driver, fellow officer Sundeep Gill who has been subjected to racism from the public during her work, challenged him while others in the van sat shocked.

Mr Atchley said the atmosphere in the vehicle was previously "jovial" with officers playing with bubble wrap in the back and the group having a light-hearted time.

"This is all about looking at the full picture," he said.

"The true motive was an attempt at humour not racism and in attempt to hurt or wound.

"The reason we're here in the first place is that proportionality has been totally ignored. Big organisations are scared of the word racism and that's what's happened here."

Members of the panel heard how PC Quinn was well respected, having fostered 47 children of a variety of ethnicities and was described as a father figure by a member of his team.

PC Gill was upset she never got to speak to him directly herself and said she looked up to him.

"The true motive was an attempt at humour not racism and in attempt to hurt or wound..." - Richard Atchley, defending

Panel chair Victoria Goodfellow said: "We find the words to be of a nature that there can be no justification for their use by a police officer and he would have known that.

"We find that the conduct has the potential to undermine confidence in policing."

PC Quinn was handed a final written warning lasting 18 months.

Following the hearing a spokesperson for the force said: "Kent Police expects the highest standards of its officers and staff, who are expected to serve with the utmost integrity and professionalism.

"Any employee whose behaviour is suspected of falling below these standards will be subject to scrutiny.

"The vast majority of Kent Police’s employees serve with honesty, integrity and professionalism.

"The very small minority who do not reach the high standards expected of them will be identified and brought before a disciplinary panel or court if their actions are of a criminal nature."