The former president of the Police Union made a sexually suggestive comment about the grieving widow of a police officer killed in the line of duty, a misconduct commission was told.

John Apter reportedly said he wanted to comfort Lissie Harper in his hotel room as she prepared to accept a posthumous award on behalf of her husband, Andrew Harper, who was dragged to his death in 2019 while trying to stop a gang of quad bike thieves.

Mr Apter, who was chairman of the Police Union between 2018 and 2021, is said to have told colleagues: “I would like to look after her tonight” and “I would like to comfort her in my hotel room”.

A commission into serious misconduct also heard the former Hampshire officer groped the buttocks of a much younger officer and made a suggestive comment to a pregnant colleague at the annual Police Bravery Awards.

Lawyer Cecily White, representing Hampshire Police, told the misconduct hearing there was a “pattern” to Mr Apter’s behaviour, which she called “sexist and derogatory”.

“There are significant similarities between the allegations made by different people from different perspectives, which show unfortunate attitudes towards women in the workplace,” Ms White said.

She added that his role as chairman gave him “considerable power and authority”.