A CUMBRIA police officer has been sacked after he pleaded guilty to attempting to incite sexual activity with a 12-year-old girl.

Nicholas Pool, who was a serving constable in south Cumbria, was caught out by an undercover officer posing as the girl on three separate occasions last year.

The decision to dismiss the 29-year-old was made by chief constable Jerry Graham at a misconduct special case hearing at Cumbria Constabulary Headquarters in Penrith today.

Speaking at the hearing, Mr Graham said he was 'shocked and dismayed' by PC Pool's behaviour.

“It is very difficult to comprehend the paradox between his professional responsibilities to protect vulnerable people and his personal conduct which, if it had come to fruition, would have place vulnerable people at great risk," said Mr Graham.

“The public will share the anger and bitter disappointment of his colleagues regarding his deplorable conduct. PC Pool has brought disgrace upon himself and the Constabulary who employed him, in good faith, to protect communities.

“The public may take some reassurance from the fact that it was proactive policing that uncovered and exposed his appalling criminal behaviour and brought him to justice.

“In light of all of the evidence, it is clear that PC Pool’s moral compass is so distorted that he is unfit to be a police officer and I have no hesitation in dismissing him without notice.”

He admitted three charges of attempting to incite a girl in sexual activity of a penetrative nature when he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court in January.

One offence is said to have taken place in the Penrith area on November 22 and two at Ulverston on December 11 and 12.

He was remanded in custody and will next appear at the crown court on March 8.