The case against a Kingston police officer accused of stealing biscuits has crumbled, with a panel finding him not guilty after a three-day misconduct hearing.

PC Thomas Hooper was alleged to have taken a two-tier tin of a colleague’s biscuits on May 3, 2016, and then lying about it five months later.

He appeared before the panel from Monday, February 19, to Wednesday, February 21, to defend himself in a case informally named “Biscuitgate” by local officers.

PC Hooper’s lawyer Ben Summers told the panel the biscuits had been left out, and there was no evidence they were taken from a cupboard, as was alleged.

He said: “Things get left out, and the way that you understand people are doing that is that that is most likely for others to use.”

A witness, PC Darren Johnson, quoted PC Hooper as saying if someone was “stupid enough” to leave biscuits out then “f**k them” – this quote was disputed by Mr Summers.

PC Hooper had offered to pay for a replacement for the box, but this was not taken as evidence of guilt, given he was probably taken aback when confronted by an inspector about biscuits.

Charles Apthorp, representing the Metropolitan Police, told the hearing on Monday PC Hooper’s actions showed a “fundamental lack of integrity”, saying his actions might have amounted to a breach of professional standards.

Panel chairwoman Naheed Asjad said the public would be concerned that a complaint involving a tin of biscuits had reached this stage.

She asked Sarah Blake, who was an inspector at the time: "You have a sergeant and an inspector and a box of biscuits that have gone missing and the only thing you can come up with is to refer the matter to DPS (Directorate of Professional Standards)?"

Ms Blake replied that "the option of going to the DPS was because of the gravity of the incident".

PC Hooper was also accused of driving a van in “response mode” (exceeding the speed limit with lights on) without a valid reason, and giving a false account of the incident.

Giving evidence, PC Annabell Raynor, said an “extremely violent” man with mental health issues had vomited in the back of the van, and the stench became a health and safety issue.

The panel found there was no case to answer for either charge, and that PC Hooper’s accounts were “not false or misleading”.

He will return to full duties, having been on restricted duties since July 2017.