A police officer who rammed a suspected moped thief off his bike can keep his job because his actions were “reasonable”, a tribunal has ruled, as rank and file officers have attacked how he was treated.

Pc Edwin Sutton faced a disciplinary hearing this week for allegedly breaching professional standards by using a “dangerous” method to stop a teenage driver escaping after a suspected handbag theft.

However a panel yesterday concluded that Pc Sutton, who could be seen wiping away tears as the decision was read out, acted “reasonably” and that his action was “necessary for the apprehension of a suspected criminal”.

The incident occurred on May 21, 2017 when the moped driver - a 17-year-old boy known only as Mr G - was allegedly seriously injured after Pc Sutton moved his marked vehicle into the rider’s path to stop him speeding off.

Colleagues of Pc Sutton, who will retire from the Met Police in four weeks time after 30 years of service, criticised the “absurd” misconduct procedure being brought against him by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in the first place.