A Met police officer who drunkenly wrecked a West End barber’s shop with a traffic cone will not be punished so he has the chance to rescue his “stellar” career, a judge has ruled.

During a “night of madness”, Pc Thomas Pearson, 27, went on a rampage at Envy Barbers, Covent Garden, smashing a door and the cash till screen, and sweeping hair products on to the floor.

Officers in a nearby police station were alerted and found him hiding in a cupboard at the back of the shop, where he revealed himself to be an off-duty Pc.

He stood trial twice, claiming his drink had been spiked with party drugs, but at the Old Bailey last month he was found guilty of burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage. However, despite the offence carrying a possible jail term, Judge Sarah Munro QC handed him an absolute discharge.

“I am satisfied this is a one-off and you will never offend again, you behaved completely out of character,” she said.

“You are entirely remorseful and ashamed. The tragic consequences are that you may lose your job and you have lost your good character, undoubtedly blighting your future prospects which, but for this offence, were stellar.”

She added: “I express the hope one night of madness doesn’t ruin the life and prospects of an otherwise respectable and valuable member of society.”

Pearson sighed with relief as he left the dock on Friday, amid gasps and weeping in the public gallery. The court heard the barber shop owners had not wanted the prosecution to go ahead.

Pc Pearson said he believed his gin and tonic had been spiked with a GHB-style drug on February 8 last year. But an expert at trial said there was no evidence of this, and he was three times the drink-drive limit when he was tested later.

Pearson told the court he drank four or five Stella Artois at a friend’s house before they headed to a pub. He later went to the Roxy nightclub in Rathbone Place. At 2.25am he was seen punching the door of the barber’s, before using a traffic cone to smash his way in.

The Pc has been on restricted duties since the incident. The judge said she hoped her sentencing remarks would be considered in any professional disciplinary proceedings.