'There can be no place in the police service for men that behave in this way' - Northamptonshire officer resigned day before gross misconduct hearing
A former police constable would have been dismissed without notice following an accelerated gross misconduct hearing held this week.
The hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet, was held by Northamptonshire Police at Force Headquarters yesterday (Wednesday, March 4), in relation to former PC 1669 Gareth Middleton.
It was alleged that the officer concerned on November 28, 2025 was convicted of two sexual assaults following a house party in Wellingborough and was sentenced for those offences on December 29, 2025.
He received a community order for three years, with an unpaid work requirement of 250 hours, 10 days rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £2,000 and a victim surcharge of £95.
The officer was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
It was alleged that the officer concerned breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct.
The former officer resigned from Northamptonshire Police the day prior to the hearing being held and did not attend the hearing.
The Chief Constable considered the available evidence and found the matter proved as gross misconduct.
When considering outcome, the Chief Constable determined: “I have no hesitation in finding that the disciplinary action would have been imposed had the officer not resigned; and the only sanction that could have preserved confidence in the police service in this case would have been dismissal without notice.”
The Chief Constable also noted: “I will place on record that this conduct is utterly appalling and reprehensible and there can be no place in the police service for men that behave in this way.
"They should always face the full extent of the law. I also thank the victims in this case for coming forward and reporting these abhorrent crimes.”
At the time of the assaults, PC Gareth Middleton, a response officer based in Kettering, had been at a party in 2021, at which the women were guests.
He was subsequently charged with two counts of sexual assault and at the end of a four-day trial at Leicester Crown Court in November, he was found guilty by a jury on both charges.
The full outcome of this week’s hearing can be read here.