A police officer who engaged in a relationship with a vulnerable victim of crime has been dismissed.

Nicholas Musto, who worked for Hertfordshire Constabulary for 25 years, is currently serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to misconduct in public office.

He was dismissed in his absence following a special case hearing on Monday, September 21, chaired by Chief Constable Charlie Hall.

The charges relate to an inappropriate relationship the officer had with a vulnerable victim of crime he came in contact with through his operational police work.

The matter was investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following a voluntary referral from Hertfordshire Constabulary in October 2018.

During the investigation it emerged that Musto, 51, had lied about the nature of his relationship with the victim when concerns were previously investigated in 2013.

He was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Friday, July 17.

Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: “This former officer abused his position and entered into a controlling relationship with a vulnerable crime victim, betraying the values of this force and potentially damaging public confidence. His behaviour has been totally unacceptable, committing a criminal offence when the public should have expected him to be upholding the law.

“As a force, we expect the highest standards of conduct and will always take action when those standards are not met. I hope the victim in this case can now have some closure and feel reassured that justice has been done.”