Matthew Horne, of Essex police, accused of breaching professional standards over incident that left mark on colleague’s throat

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A deputy chief constable is accused of throwing a rubber stress ball at a junior colleague’s throat, leaving a red mark.

Matthew Horne, of Essex police, is accused of breaching professional standards. He faces a misconduct hearing in Chelmsford on 15 January.

A document released by the force before the process alleges Horne threw the ball “for no apparent reason” while in his office with two colleagues.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Matthew Horne faces a misconduct hearing in Chelmsford on 15 January. Photograph: NCA/PA

The incident is said to have happened on an unknown date between October 2015 and May 2016.

Horne is further accused of pushing the junior colleague “with two hands, causing him to fall on to a desk”. It is alleged that this happened “during a conversation about policing matters, and for no apparent reason”.

Horne is also accused of repeatedly swearing at a second colleague during a confrontation in a car park outside the force’s control room.

He allegedly “stood with clenched fists, leaning in towards” the colleague and said he “had to leave before [he] punched something”.

The misconduct hearing, to be chaired by Dorian Lovell-Pank QC, is listed for six days.