A pair of Met Police officers who were caught engaging in oral sex in a station service lift after a drunken night out have been allowed to keep their jobs – after colleagues spoke to their otherwise glittering records.

Detective Constable Jessica Martin and Police Constable Pierce Lynch were discovered in the compromising position by two of their colleagues at Bethnal Green Police Station on November 16 2022 at around 9.40pm.

The young duo had been out drinking for three hours when they shared a kiss, before going back to the station to get their things – at which point the pair undid PC Lynch’s trousers and DC Martin performed the sex act for ‘about 5-10 seconds’.

The between-floors romp took place in a service lift used by police officers and contractors such as cleaners – and the the pair were rumbled by colleagues who called the lift in order to reach the smoking area on the ground floor. 

Upon seeing the pair, one said: ‘That’s not on, guys’. They were immediately reported to a senior officer and this week were hauled before a standards committee which found them guilty of gross misconduct – a sackable offence.

However, the panel opted to let them keep their jobs after receiving a ‘substantial number of character references’ from colleagues and senior officers commending their otherwise glittering careers.

They have instead been handed a final written warning – meaning any further misconduct will likely see them sacked on the spot.

DC Martin, a police officer for three years, wept and dabbed her eyes with tissues as she was found guilty of misconduct, and bowed her head as she was told she would not lose her job. 

Metropolitan Police officers DC Jessica Martin and PC Pierce Lynch will keep their jobs after being caught engaging in oral sex at Bethnal Green Police Station (pictured)

The pair were hauled before a standards hearing at Sutton Police Station (pictured) this week

The Met standards panel ruled that the pair could keep their jobs – but handed them a final written warning (stock image)

She was dressed in a black suit, and was supported by another woman during the hearing. PC Lynch wore his formal Met Police uniform for the hearing.

The hearing at Sutton Police Station had previously been told how both cops had accepted they were drunk at the time of the incident.

Elisabeth Acker, for the Met, had said: ‘Police Constables Flaherty and Frost-Smith were in front of the doors of the service lift.

‘When the doors of the lift opened, they saw TDC Martin and PC Lynch engaging in a sexual act – that sexual activity being oral sex, performed by TDC Martin on TDC Lynch.’

In his statement read to the hearing Lynch, who had been a trainee detective constable before joining the Met’s Response Team as a constable, said: ‘Jess undid my zip and I undid my top button.’

The statement added: ‘To the best of (his) recollection Martin then performed the sex act ‘for about 5-10 seconds.”

Both had admitted to engaging in sexual activity on police property, where they were at risk of being seen by police. 

But they had denied engaging in the tryst where they were at risk of being seen by members of the public; they had also denied gross misconduct.

The panel accepted their claims that the act had been a spur-of-the-moment lapse of judgement. 

Neither sought to blame the other, nor blame their intoxicated state for their actions, the hearing were told.

‘The conduct of each officer was indistinguishable from the other… the officers’ actions were deliberate and intentional, but the panel accepts it was not planned,’ panel chair Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alexis Boon said today.

‘The panel finds they did not seek to blame one another, nor the fact they were inebriated at the time.

‘The risk of being seen by members of the public was low but the risk of being seen by fellow police officers was considerable.’

Rina Marie Hill and DC Nobby Clarke (pictured), representing DC Martin and PC Lynch respectively, said both officers had received glittering references from their colleagues

But while it had been a ‘single unplanned episode’ for which both TDC Lynch and DC Martin had shown ‘genuine remorse’ their actions, the panel concluded their actions amounted to gross misconduct.

DAC Boon continued: ‘It was shocking to the fellow officers and caused them embarrassment. It is highly likely or has impacted on the good running of this station and has affected their relationships with colleagues.

‘The risk of being seen by members of the public was considered non-existent (by Lynch and Martin). It was, nonetheless, real.’

Rina Marie Hill, speaking for DC Martin, said the rookie detective had been taunted by colleagues following the incident, being given an unspecified nickname that referenced the lift encounter and made the target of cruel rumours.

One colleague who worked at Stoke Newington Police Station became aware of the lift encounter before she ever worked alongside DC Martin, Ms Hill added. 

‘If she is to remain a police officer the fact of this allegation will remain with her and will be known to her colleagues for the rest of her career,’ the lawyer said.

‘As you can imagine there has been considerable gossip and so-called ‘banter’ among colleagues.

‘She has been subjected to jibes and taunts. She has been referred to as a nickname that I will not repeat.

‘It has been suggested that she provided sexual services to others in order to advance her career… (suggestions that are) crude and utterly inappropriate.’

The police officers had tried to claim there was no risk of them being seen by members of the public – but the panel ruled there was as the station service lift was used by contractors

But she added that DC Martin had also struggled with her mental health, the end of a relationship, and family bereavements.

The detective also received a substantial number of endorsements from her colleagues who said she should keep her job. 

She added: ‘The fact that so many people have taken the time to prepare detailed and considered references is, you may feel, a testament to her character. They can be described, in my opinion, as exceptional.’

DC Nobby Clarke, for PC Lynch, said the response officer was ‘sorry’ above all else for the mark on his five-year police record.

‘He is sorry for the embarrassment he has caused himself and his colleagues and the person sitting behind him,’ he said, referencing DC Martin.

‘This was a single unplanned event – (there was) no intention by planning or preparation for what was an isolated 15 second incident. 

‘While certainly not in the first flourishes of youth he was not as alert to the effects of his immaturity and poor decision making as he is today.’

He added that the constable had been ‘overwhelmed’ by a breakup, trying to cope with his mother’s recurring brain tumour diagnoses, and an incident in which he had been ‘violently assaulted’ by a pair of muggers.

But he had also been appointed as the welfare officer for his team since the incident, and was now a response team officer ‘trusted to be the first responder to members of the public in their time of need’. 

‘This moment of madness will live with him and that alone is a just punishment,’ DC Clarke added. 

Panel chair Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alexis Boon said today: ‘The panel took into account their early admissions and substantial number of character references which the panel found exceptional in their relative youth and time in service.’

DAC Boon said the panel, while recognising a ‘significant lapse of professionalism and judgement’, concluded it had been a ‘single isolated incident’ that took place while the officers were off-duty and had been dealing with personal struggles.

‘The panel finds the public interest is served by allowing them to continue to serve as police officers,’ he continued, describing them as ‘genuinely remorseful and committed officers’.

The final written warning will remain on their record for three years.