A JEWISH police officer felt "mocked for her faith" after a sergeant dangled a piece of pepperoni pizza over her food, a disciplinary hearing has been told.

The female officer was relaxing with colleagues before a shift when Sergeant Gary Jacobs dangled the meat-covered pizza near her, causing a piece of meat to fall onto her kosher meal, a panel heard.

The sergeant, based in Crawley, West Sussex, is accused of gross misconduct over the incident, which happened in March this year.

He said he "bitterly regrets" the behaviour but argued that it was not pre-meditated.

Sgt Jacobs, who appeared before a disciplinary panel at Sussex Police headquarters in Lewes on Tuesday, has admitted misconduct in relation to the incident but denies that his actions amount to gross misconduct.

Referred to only as "Pc A", the Jewish officer said in a statement that she felt "embarrassed" and "isolated" following the incident.

Amy Clarke, bringing the allegation on behalf of the police force, said: "On March 8, 2019 Sergeant Jacobs and Pc A, amongst others, were both at a police station and were partaking in eating some pizza that had been ordered for the team there.

"Pc A had deliberately ordered a pizza that was compliant with her dietary requirements."

The hearing was told that another officer suggested that the leftovers from Pc A's special kosher pizza ought to be kept separate from the rest of the team's to avoid contamination.

"Sergeant Jacobs picked up a piece of pepperoni pizza and dangled it over or near Pc A's food.

"A piece of the pepperoni fell onto Pc A's pizza."

Ms Clarke said that Pc A - who was of a lower rank to Sergeant Jacobs - did not feel able to call him out on his actions at the time.

She continued: "She felt embarrassed, isolated and as if she was being mocked for her faith.

"Sergeant Jacobs knew that she was Jewish and knew that she maintained a Kosher diet and we say any modicum of common sense ought to dictate that that means that you should not dangle pork over her food.

"It appears that Sergeant Jacobs has prioritised making a joke, as he describes it, over showing an officer, another individual, respect for their faith which is clearly important to them."

Colin Banham, representing Sergeant Jacobs, said: "No-one says this was a malicious act.

"An incident that he bitterly regrets and one that he is clearly remorseful about.

"There was no intention to contaminate food."

He argued that the incident was not pre-meditated and happened in a "jocular atmosphere" when officers were relaxing before a shift began.

The hearing continues.