A Metropolitan Police officer has been barred from policing after sending unsolicited sexualised messages to vulnerable members of the public, including a woman in her seventies and a teenage girl.

PC Andrew Gilligan was found to have sent inappropriate messages via Twitter to three individuals during March and April 2023, according to a recent misconduct hearing.

The misconduct panel heard that PC Gilligan sent graphic sexual messages and explicit images of intimate body parts to two women—one elderly and another with autism—without consent, leaving both recipients deeply distressed. The messages were so disturbing that all three recipients independently reported his conduct to their local police forces.

Further investigations revealed Gilligan also repeatedly messaged a girl under the age of 18 who expressed an interest in joining the police. The messages included inappropriate comments about her appearance, calling her “cute,” and requests to add her on Snapchat.

At a misconduct hearing held on February 27, 2025, the panel determined that PC Gilligan’s actions showed a serious lack of self-control and amounted to a breach of professional standards, especially given the vulnerability of his targets.

Gilligan resigned from the force shortly before the hearing took place and did not attend proceedings. Despite his resignation, the misconduct panel determined that his behaviour warranted immediate dismissal, and he was subsequently added to the barred policing list, preventing him from working in law enforcement again.

Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams condemned Gilligan’s actions, stating:

“The public could not have confidence in PC Gilligan to treat them with courtesy and respect. Nor would they have confidence in the Metropolitan Police Service if it appeared not to take such behaviour seriously.”

This incident underscores the continued scrutiny the Metropolitan Police faces regarding officer conduct and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals in the community.

The Met Police have reiterated their ongoing commitment to upholding standards of professionalism and addressing misconduct decisively.