A POLICEMAN who lied about why he failed to turn up to work has been sacked after 16 years on the force.

Sussex constable Michael Robinson, 36, was dismissed for gross misconduct after a disciplinary panel meeting on Tuesday.

The officer, based at Eastbourne, did not appear at the hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Giles York at Sussex Police headquarters in Lewes.

In May this year, PC Robinson, who had been with Sussex Police since 2002, had been expected on duty with colleagues in Eastbourne at 7am.

When he failed to show up, one of his colleagues contacted him to find out where he had been.

He responded in a text message that he had been to Lewes to collect something and then returned to the Hammonds Drive police hub.

He repeated this information in another text message to a supervisor.

The next day, he emailed supervisors saying that he had been unwell, repeating that he had been to Lewes and then returned to Eastbourne to work.

But concerns were raised about his explanation, and the force’s professional standards department was asked to investigate.

Enquiries showed he had not been to Lewes, there was a discrepancy with his starting times and he had made it difficult for anyone to contact him as he had left his radio and work phone at home.

PC Robinson acknowledged his lies when challenged. When interviewed he explained that he had returned home to collect some medication and left his work phone and radio behind before returning to a car park near Hammonds Drive where he remained studying in his car for the remainder of his shift.

He also confirmed that only a very small part of the day was spent on police work and as such he had not provided value for money.

When questioned further about the medication, it emerged that he had not declared it when he applied for another post in the force.

He admitted five allegations.