A TAUNTON police officer who was dismissed after a tribunal heard he verbally abused colleagues while off duty and twice failed to turn up for work without a good excuse is to ask for his job back.

PC James McCall was sacked last November after it was concluded he had been guilty of gross misconduct.

McCall was found to have breached standards of authority, respect and courtesy, conduct, and duties and responsibilities.

Following his sacking, Supt Simon Wilstead, the force's head of professional standards, said: “On two occasions, PC James McCall made abusive and highly offensive comments to colleagues while off-duty.

“The first incident saw him using offensive language towards PCSOs in Taunton town centre in September 2018.

“The second incident was at a social event in Taunton in December 2018 in which he behaved completely inappropriately and used deeply offensive and discriminatory language towards his colleagues.

“All forms of discriminatory behaviour and conduct are completely inexcusable and have no place in the police service.”

A police appeal tribunal on Thursday (July 16) will hear that McCall was suffering from mental health issues at the time.