A former police officer is claimed to have established a new digital enterprise during a period of sick absence, according to a misconduct hearing.

Ex officer Bethany Horton remained on extended sick leave throughout her concluding year working for Thames Valley Police prior to departing the organisation in August the previous year.

She had served as a police constable with the force starting from March 2022, stationed in Oxfordshire, though the specific station location has not been revealed.

Claims indicate that during this period she founded and took on the role of director at a fresh online venture alongside a collaborator and failed to reveal this commercial involvement despite the force making multiple requests.

Thames Valley Police states that once a misconduct inquiry commenced, Ms Horton put off submitting the necessary documentation, failed to attend arranged interviews without presenting medical justification, and departed the force shortly after.

The former officer is said to have violated professional conduct expectations concerning truthfulness and propriety, directives and conformance, and behaviour that brings the force into disrepute.

Furthermore, she is said to have on multiple occasions intimidated and subjected a vulnerable person known to her to verbal mistreatment.

The force clarified this bore no connection to her official duties at Thames Valley Police.

In relation to this matter, Ms Horton is also said to have infringed professional standards regarding use of position, consideration and politeness, and conduct that damages professional reputation.

Ms Horton is now scheduled to appear at an open misconduct hearing on Wednesday March 25 presided over by Chief Constable Jason Hogg.