A police officer who drunkenly urinated in the changing room of an Urban Outfitters while off duty and then lied about it now faces the prospect of losing her job.
PC Amelia Shearer had only just begun her career on probation with Cleveland Police when the incident landed her with an accusation of gross misconduct.
The disgraced officer was seen sobbing as an independent panel gave a judgment following the vile offence in the York branch of the popular clothing retailer.
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A panel will consider later today (August 24) whether PC Shearer will be able to remain on the force or whether she will get the chop.
The officer, who colleagues otherwise described as "excellent", denied the allegations over the course of the three-day hearing.
However the panel were convinced that while off duty at a bottomless brunch the woman downed half a bottle of Prosecco and three cocktails, plus a Jack Daniels and Coke at a second location, all in the space of four hours before venturing into the shop.
Giving evidence at the hearing, a member of staff said the officer asked if the shop had toilets and was told "no", but straight away made a beeline for the changing rooms without any clothes to try on.
The employee radioed for his manager, and when Shearer emerged the pair found a puddle of what smelled like urine on the floor.
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The retailer was forced to pay nearly £500 to have the cubicle professionally cleaned and all nine of the fitting rooms had to be shut, the hearing at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium heard.
The officer, whose childhood dream had been to join the force, denied urinating in the shop but did admit that she and her friend were "loud and giggly".
She said that she had adjusted her bra in the changing room, something she did not tell her superior, Inspector Christian Duree, when they spoke on the phone the following day, because she had only given him an "abridged version" of events.
However, the force accused the woman of lying to him as well as fibbing in the interviews that followed.
Olivia Checa-Dover, for the force, said evidence against PC Shearer was "overwhelmingly strong", and the two unlucky staff members were telling the truth.
Joan Smith, for the defendant, said she had consistently denied urinating, while Inspector Duree had nothing but good things to say about the young officer.
"From my experience as a police officer she has been absolutely spot-on, an excellent officer," he told the hearing.
Upon reaching the verdict the panel’s chair, Ogheneruona Iguyovwe, said: "Police officers are expected to maintain high standards of behaviour.
"They have to ask themselves if their actions might result in a member of the public losing confidence in the policing profession.
"Officers are required to act with integrity and honesty at all times."
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