A Durham police officer facing the sack after a drink drive conviction has quit the force, it has been revealed.
PC Simon Hopper, 44, based in Darlington, was subject to a misconduct investigation after his court case last month and a hearing was due to go ahead last Friday.
However a Durham Constabulary spokesperson said prior to it starting, the force's professional standards department was told Hopper had resigned.
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Last month Teesside Magistrates Court heard how Hopper got behind the wheel of a Toyota Verso on January 3.
He was stopped by police on the A19 at Middlesbrough and breathalysed, which revealed a reading of 111 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, three times over the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Magistrates fined the officer £1,170 at his sentencing on January 21 and banned him from driving for 26 months after which he faced an accelerated misconduct hearing.
Hopper, who lives in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, had been suspended from the force while it was being carried out.
After the court case last month, Superintendent Dave Cuthbert, head of Durham Constabulary’s Professional Standards Department, said: “This officer was suspended while an investigation was carried out and will face an accelerated gross misconduct hearing next month.
“The public and Durham Constabulary quite rightly expect the highest professional standards from our officers and staff at all times, and the actions of this officer fell terribly short of those standards.
“Driving while under the influence is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
