A Greater Manchester Police officer has been sacked after being convicted of stalking a woman who he followed around a supermarket taking dozens of pictures of her.

Steven Hamilton, 49, followed and watched his victim as she shopped in Tesco in Glossop, Derbyshire on two separate occasions.

He took a total of 41 photographs of her without her knowing which the M.E.N understand were found on his mobile phone making her feel ‘distress, anger and violated’ court documents say.

He was charged with both stalking and harassment between September 2016 and February 2017.

He denied both offences but he was found guilty after a trial at South Cheshire Magistrates court in Crewe on June 15.

He was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and was issued with a restraining order meaning he cannot contact the victim by any means and cannot enter the Shirebrook Estate in Glossop for a year.

Hamilton, of London Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, must pay £620 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

As a result of his conviction disciplinary proceedings were brought against PC Hamilton, who is said to have been based at GMP’s base in Sedgeley Park, Prestwich.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

And the force has now confirmed he has been dismissed for gross misconduct.

A GMP spokesman said: “PC Steven Hamilton breached the standards of professional behaviour expected by all employees of Greater Manchester Police.

“He displayed behaviour and actions that could undermine the public’s confidence in the police service, which is simply unacceptable.

“A full investigation was carried out and following a special case hearing, an independent panel deemed his behaviour to be gross misconduct and he was dismissed.”