Merton's former top cop was dismissed from the Met yesterday after a 16-month internal investigation found him guilty of repeated inappropriate behaviour towards female colleagues.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Williams - who became Merton's borough commander in February 2012 - was suspended in January 2014 over allegations of gross misconduct.

He was suspended on full pay of about £80,000 a year while the Met investigated four allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female colleagues.

He was also accused of failing to disclose receiving a gift.

A panel of two senior officers and a member of the public yesterday found D Chief Supt Williams guilty of all allegations following a two-day hearing.

From Friday, May 1 disciplinary hearings must now be held in public.

The rule by the Home Office came in too late for D Chief Supt Williams' hearing but will mean members of the press and public will be allowed access into future hearings.  

D Chief Supt Williams had pleaded guilty to misconduct in all five allegations, but denied gross misconduct.

The panel found his actions in each allegation amounted to misconduct, but taken together they amounted to gross misconduct.

He was dismissed immediately following the hearing.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Fiona Taylor, directorate of professionalism, said: "We expect high standards from our officers and we are naturally very disappointed that Darren Williams' behaviour has fallen significantly short of that expected of any officer, let alone one so senior."

D Chief Supt Williams has served in the Met for 27 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He joined the Met in 1988 and was previously deputy borough commander in Bexley.

During his time in Merton, D Chief Supt Williams was seen as a popular, outgoing borough commander.

Memorable moments include him wrestling a 17-year-old mugger to the ground outside Wimbledon Police Station and competing against heavyweight boxing champion Tim Witherspoon in a charity contest.

Wimbledon Times:

Better days: Merton police boss survives fight with boxing champ Tim Witherspoon

Tough cop: Merton's borough commander tackles brazen thief outside Wimbledon police station

Responding to the dismissal, Merton's council leader, Councillor Stephen Alambritis said today: "He was a very good borough commander and I'm sorry that things have turned out this way."