A married police sergeant has escaped with a warning after accessing the personal records of two women he met on a dating app for people in uniform.

Hampshire police's Stuart Jackson falsely told one of the women that he was divorced before using his force's system to carry out a 'detailed' search of her records.

Over two years, PS Jackson accessed her private information while they engaged in a 'sexual relationship', a police misconduct hearing was told.

PS Jackson was one of the officers involved in Operation Defender, in which police, council, security staff, and volunteers work together to ensure safety on Friday and Saturday nights in Southampton city centre.

The long-serving officer accepted that there was 'no policing purpose' to his actions and blamed the 'foolish' decision on 'stress' in his marriage.

Following a Hampshire Constabulary misconduct hearing in Eastleigh, PS Jackson was found guilty of gross misconduct.

Representing the force, Kimberly Duncan told the hearing that in June 2023 an investigation was launched into his activities after bosses discovered he had had two affairs.

It was heard on March 26 2021 that PS Jackson logged into the police's Record Management System (RMS) and conducted a 'detailed find search' of the woman referred to only as Female A.

The pair met on March 25 and PS Jackson 'went on to date her'.

The misconduct hearing was also told of an allegation relating to a second woman, referred to as Female B.

On June 25 2022, just minutes after he accessed details relating to Female A, PS Jackson carried out a search into Female B.

The hearing also heard that PS Jackson and Female B are currently in a relationship.

During mitigation, PS Jackson told the hearing: "I just wanted to say I am truly sorry for what I have done."

Delivering the verdict, Chief Constable Scott Chilton said: "I am satisfied that the alleged conduct is gross misconduct and I think in relation to the - the evidence is compelling."

The chief constable handed PS Jackson a written warning that will lie on his file for three years.

He also warned PS Jackson that if he 'steps over the line again' then he will be dismissed.