A Bexleyheath police officer jailed for tipping his son off that he was suspect in a Sidcup mugging has been sacked from the police force.

Darren McCabe, 50, was jailed for six months at Southwark Crown Court on March 18 after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

The court heard that McCabe's son was captured on CCTV allegedly watching while two youths attempted to steal a shoulder bag from a pedestrian.

The teenager was at risk of being identified from the "distinctive clothing" he wore at the time of the attempted theft, and his wardrobe would have been searched when he was arrested, jurors heard.

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McCabe, a detective sergeant not directly involved in the investigation, set out to reveal details of the clothing his son was wearing to his wife and son.

In recorded phone calls, McCabe told his wife: "You can't disclose any of this I'm telling you as I'm trying to help our son."

Today (April 28) a spokesman for the Met Police announced McCabe has been dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing.

The hearing found he breached the “standards of professional behaviour by discreditable conduct”.

McCabe's son was not prosecuted following the investigation into the alleged attempted theft.