Senior policeman 'called prostitutes on his police Blackberry while on duty and disclosed sensitive details about girl's murder on Facebook'

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Inspector Lee Lyons (pictured), of Sussex Police, is facing a public misconduct hearing over allegations that he contacted prostitutes while on duty

A senior police officer is facing a public misconduct hearing over allegations that he contacted prostitutes while on duty.

Inspector Lee Lyons, of Sussex Police, is alleged to have arranged a location and fee for the services of a woman called Natalie for after he had finished his shift.

At the time of making and receiving the series of calls and text messages on his force issued BlackBerry, he was working as a critical incident inspector, it is claimed.

He is also alleged to have used his personal phone at work to make 23 calls to eleven prostitutes in just over an hour on one day alone, July 23 last year.

Mr Lyons, who has been suspended from his Hastings-based role, faces a series of other allegations publicly issued by Sussex Police ahead of a misconduct hearing at force headquarters on Monday.

As well as the prostitute accusations, it is also alleged he disclosed details on Facebook after seven-year-old Mary Shipstone was shot dead by her father Yasser Alromisse, 46, before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide in Northiam, near Rye.

It is claimed that at 6.43pm on September 11 last year, he posted: 'Can't go into massive detail, and not for wider posting on FB. Estranged father shot daughter and then shot himself.

'He died at scene, she is currently at Kings College, London; she will likely die soon but there is a chance she might pull through.'

Later that same day, he is alleged to have engaged in an iMessage chat with a BBC producer, and said at 10.25pm: 'Wait until the media get wind of the extremism link.'

He is said to have later added: 'Egyptian national, claims to have been a "terrorist"; alleged to have been radicalised. Poss "honour" killing.'

Again, on the same day, Mr Lyons is said to have been involved in a WhatsApp chat with a barrister and personal friend, in which he revealed further details about the incident, describing the victim as 'brain dead'.

He is alleged to have added: 'Obvs between us but...Non supportive DV history, he is an Egyptian national, claims to have been a 'terrorist'; alleged to have been radicalised. Poss "honour" killing.'

Mr Lyons faces a series of other allegations publicly issued by Sussex Police ahead of a misconduct hearing at force headquarters on Monday

In further disclosures, Mr Lyons is said to have contacted a BBC producer via WhatsApp on March 27 last year revealing a number of police officer suspensions at Hastings, including one for alleged bullying and one for misuse of a Taser.

The following day, he is alleged to have contacted her again via WhatsApp and said: 'One of the new suspended officers is my mate. Looks like he is losing his job...He has been a cock...Sleeved a job...And the victim then got a shoeing.'

In other claims, Mr Lyons is said to have 'formed and maintained a relationship with a local news reporter' from at least May 2012 to the present day.

In one of the incidents, the reporter is said to have contacted Mr Lyons on August 2, 2012, asking for confirmation about a Hastings-based sergeant being dismissed for a 'racist comment'.

Mr Lyons is said to have replied: 'Correct, running a story?' Asked for further details, he is alleged to have added: 'Yeah, made fun of a colleague. Other stuff too, can't mention. Poor supervisor.'

Mr Lyons is also said to have made other disclosures to the reporter. He is alleged to have also struck up a relationship from at least November 2011 with a local journalist and given her information about police incidents.

In a further claim, it is said he sent a number of sensitive and restricted documents from his Sussex Police email account to his personal account.

Lyons faces allegations that his conduct amounted to a breach of standards of professional behaviour.

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