TWO Sussex police officers have been sacked for misconduct.

PC Anthony Lusted made an imaginary phone call claiming to contact a victim of crime - but really rang his own mobile phone.

Other officers overheard his 13 minute conversations - in which he claimed to have told the woman her children were safe after a welfare check had been carried and he then updated police records to say he had completed the call.

But former award-winning cop Lusted had called his own phone and when the woman rang police asking to speak to an officer the fantasist was found out.

During his four years at the force Lusted had been awarded a Royal Humane Society Award for helping the victim of a road crash see her family before she died.

But at a misconduct hearing Chief Constable Giles York said he was “mystified” by his behaviour.

Eastbourne- based Lusted faced allegations of breaching standards of professional behaviour in respect of duties and responsibilities and honesty and integrity on Wednesday.

The allegations were found and he was dismissed without notice - but had already resigned from the force and did not attend the hearing.

A second police officer was also dismissed by the chief constable on Wednesday.

Off duty PC Marcus Edwards was accused of discreditable conduct after obstructing his colleagues as they responded to an incident in London Road, Brighton.

Worthing-based PC Edwards received a formal caution and resigned from the force.

But a misconduct hearing found he was guilty of discreditable conduct and dismissed without notice.

He had also resigned prior to the hearing.

Deputy Chief Constable Laurence Taylor said: “These officers fell far short of the standards we expect at Sussex Police. They have let the public and their colleagues down. We are determined not to let a very small number of officers damage the confidence held in our force and the huge amount of good work carried out by hard-working and dedicated police officers and staff across the county.”

New police misconduct regulations came into force in December which meant misconduct hearings had to be proceeded with even if the officers concerned had resigned.

In January 2015, officers were prevented from resigning or retiring while under investigation.

Police misconduct hearings were made public from May 2015 by then Home Secretary Theresa May.

-The latest inspection reports show Sussex Police needs to improve how is prevents crime and tackles antisocial behaviour. See page 12.