A senior police officer criticised for misleading the public over the shooting of Tulse Hill resident Jean Charles de Menezes has retired from the Met.

Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman has retired, citing the "personal toll" of his high-pressure anti-terror job.

Mr Hayman has been head of the Met's Specialist Operations Directorate, including the Counter Terrorist Command, since February 2005 following his time as Chief Constable of Norfolk Police.

"It has been a great honour and privilege to lead Specialist Operations in its challenging work protecting this country from the palpable terrorist threat we face," Mr Hayman said.

"This role requires total commitment in both time and effort and has a considerable impact on your personal life, your family and friends.

"It also puts you in the spotlight, often in ways that are very hurtful.

"Recent weeks have seen a series of leaks and unfounded accusations about me, which I have and will continue to refute strongly.

"However, these events take their toll on you personally and I feel now is the right time for me to step aside and for a new person to take over."

In August, the Independent Police Complaints Commission found there were "serious weaknesses" in the way the Met handled information after Brazilian electrician Mr de Menezes was shot at Stockwell Tube station on July 22, 2005.

After a two-year investigation, the Independent Police Complaints Commission ruled that Assistant Commissioner Hayman misled the public, failing to tell the commissioner at the first opportunity of his suspicions that an innocent man had been killed.

Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said Mr Hayman should be proud of his achievements fighting terrorism.

"This year alone, 37 people have been convicted in terrorist related cases following investigation by the Met," Sir Ian said.

"He has also made a significant contribution to the development of policing and the service during his career."

Metropolitan Police Authority chair Len Duvall said: "Andy Hayman has made enormous strides in building the new national arrangements for counter terrorism, as well as modernising the Specialist Operations Directorate in the Met.

"He has achieved this during an extremely demanding and difficult period and we all have a lot to thank him for."

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, the national counter terrorism co-ordinator, has agreed to postpone his retirement to temporarily take on Mr Hayman's role while the police authority look for his replacement.