A misconduct panel considering the case of a police sergeant alleged to have breached professional standards has retired to consider its decision.

Sergeant Stephen Hughes, of Dorset Police, is accused of derogatory behaviour towards four female officers over a period of nearly two years, which led them to feel stupid, embarrassed, and caused them to doubt their judgement.

During proceedings in March, a misconduct panel heard evidence from the four women about Sgt Hughes’ behaviour while he was based at Dorchester police station between April 2014 and January 2016.

Sgt Hughes has admitted asking one officer to make tea ‘because she is a woman’, and another that he’d like her to be his mother “for the breastfeeding.” However, he faces several other allegations which he denies.

Three of the officers have now moved to different teams within Dorset, and one has left the force altogether.

Mark Ley-Morgan, representing the professional standards department, told the panel during his closing submission: “All four officers have been adversely affected by his behaviour.

“They all moved to get away from Sgt Hughes. They have all moved on with their lives but are clearly still upset, traumatised wouldn’t be too strong a word.

“A lot of Sgt Hughes’ evidence did not have a ring of truth about it, and at times it was frankly incredible.

“It must have been an ordeal for the officers to give evidence be cross-examined. Why put themselves through it if they are not genuine?”

Mr Ley-Morgan urged the panel to find that Sgt Hughes’ actions amount to gross misconduct.

Sgt Hughes is accused of condoning a negative attitude towards part-time officers, and all four women have accused him of causing them to be single-crewed more than their male counterparts.

Darren Bartlett, representing Sgt Hughes, said allegations of comments made against women “is a hot topic in the #MeToo world”, and believes the allegations against Sgt Hughes are “grown out of proportion.”

Mr Bartlett told the panel: “When you look beyond these bland assertions, this is an officer who supports his team.

“He plays by the policies, he’s a demanding manager but he’s not someone who is in breach of professional standards as the appropriate authority would have you believe.”

The panel have retired to decide whether the allegations prove misconduct, gross misconduct, or no misconduct.