A Canterbury police officer has been kicked off the force after indecent images of children were found on his laptop and phone.

PC Thomas Blant accessed the photos on the dark web and tried to hide his trail by erasing his browsing history.

But the 38-year-old, who at the time of his arrest lived in Wye outside Ashford, was caught out following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

The disgraced officer was found in possession of 21 child abuse pictures - four of which were classified in the most serious category - when his home was searched by police in January.

He admitted having the images on a Lenovo laptop and Samsung mobile, and a misconduct investigation was launched by Kent Police.

Blant - who now lives in Southend - was later charged with two counts of making indecent images, which he admitted at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court last month.

Ahead of his sentencing, a Kent Police tribunal panel met on Tuesday and dismissed the officer with immediate effect for “falling incredibly below” the standards of a PC.

The special case hearing in Gravesend ruled he was guilty of gross misconduct.

Chief Constable Alan Pughsley, who oversaw the hearing, said the force could no longer trust Blant to protect the public and or have access to police records.

Speaking after the hearing, the chief constable said: “It is abhorrent that Blant has committed these offences, particularly while working as a police officer.

“Although he was not physically involved in the abuse, his actions have helped fuel the demand for children to be exploited. It is a complete betrayal of his duty to protect the vulnerable.

“The vast majority of my officers and staff do an outstanding job serving the public in line with the highest standards of professionalism and conduct, and I expect no less from them. Those who fall short will face scrutiny.”

Blant, who was immediately suspended from the force when the allegations came to light, has now been struck off the police register and can never become an officer again.

He chose not to appear at the hearing, or have any legal representation.

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