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A police officer who admitted grabbing a colleague's breasts, described what he did as a "stupid moment of madness".

The incident dates back to 2007 at the Wetherspoons in Llandudno, when PC Daniel Doughty was working as a PCSO for North

Wales Police.

At a hearing in Colwyn Bay, PC Doughty was found guilty of gross misconduct by the tribunal panel.

But chairman Harry Ireland said it was yet to be decided whether he would be dismissed, although it doing so would be justifiable.

In order to protect her identity, the officer PC Doughty admitted to 'grabbing' was referred to as PC A and gave evidence from behind a screen.

PC Doughty admitted to drinking around four pints of cider on the night in question, before "intentionally grabbing both of PC A's breasts".

He claimed she then slapped him and it was when he went to the bathroom to splash water on his face he realised "what had been meant as a joke was inappropriate".

He apologised, claiming she accepted that, before laughing the incident off and calling him a "silly boy".

But PC A's counsel Mark Ley Morgan disputed PC Doughty's claim an apology was issued, describing his recollection of the incident as a "pack of lies".

He said: "If matters had unfolded in the way the officer says they did, why wasn't that said a long time ago?

"PC A desperately didn't want to give evidence and the only reason she had to is because very late in the day, Doughty has fabricated this account."

Mr Morgan said PC Doughty's behaviour had been "appalling" and that members of the public would be quite right to have the view that he isn't fit to be a police officer and dismissal would be justified.

Mr Ley Morgan also said that following the event, PC A had become the butt of "embarrassing" and "humiliating" jokes within the force.

PC Doughty replied: "All the jokes were at my expense because of my stupidity.

"It was never my intention to cause her embarrassment. It was a stupid moment of madness."

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PC Doughty claimed he'd seen PC A on numerous occasions in the years since and she'd even joked about telling his sisters about the incident.

His counsel Jennie Ferrario said the incident was clearly misconduct but believed it hadn't passed the threshold to take it to gross misconduct, suggesting the public would be "concerned" by it rather than "appalled".

Ms Ferrario also said it had had minimal impact on PC A's work and social life and PC Doughty was very remorseful.

She added: "There's no evidence from anyone involved that PC Doughty has never apologised.

"It's highly likely that he did apologise and she's forgotten about it."

Chairman of the panel, Harry Ireland said: "Given what is alleged, we believe the public would be appalled and we believe dismissal would be justified.

The tribunal was adjourned until 10am, tomorrow, Wednesday October 23.