A POLICE officer who ran a red light in his patrol car and then lied about it has been jailed.

Simon Wright admitted perverting the course of justice by trying to dodge punishment for his actions.

The 59-year-old had his blue lights flashing when he ran the red light in his police car with no lawful reason.

The officer, of Findon Road, Worthing, left Sussex Police in November under investigation for gross misconduct for three counts of failing to act with honesty and integrity and one of discreditable conduct.

The court heard that on June 25 and July 26, 2018, PC Wright drove a marked police car through red traffic lights in Worthing with blue lights activated as if responding to an emergency call.

But in fact he was not and had no lawful purpose for doing so.

When challenged by supervisors, he lied in an attempt to avoid prosecution and disciplinary action.

He was jailed for four months on Tuesday at Lewes Crown Court after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Wright left Sussex Police on November 16, but was still subject to a gross misconduct hearing at Sussex Police headquarters on November 28, which he did not attend.

Chief Constable Giles York, who chaired the hearing, concluded that had he still been serving, he would have been dismissed from the force.

Detective Superintendent Steve Boniface, head of Sussex Police's professional standards department, said: "Police officers must behave in a manner that does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence, whether on or off duty.

"Simon Wright's criminal disregard for the law is clearly completely out of keeping with the role that others uphold with pride, integrity and with the trust of the public whom they serve.

"It is important to show that the force will fairly investigate its own staff and this highlights our determination not to allow the name of Sussex Police to be tainted, nor bring into disrepute the enormous amount of good work carried out day-to-day by thousands of hard-working and enormously dedicated police officers and staff."