The former West Midlands detective would have been dismissed, a panel decided today.

Former DC Nicholas Tayor, based with CID at Bloxwich, had been offering sexual services for men at his home in return for payment. 

Along with his partner, he had advertised the services via the internet while he was off-duty. 

The Sun had contacted the force with the allegations in November 2020 and DC Taylor was removed from public-facing duties.

The force’s barrister John Goss said that the matter had not been investigated as “keeping or assisting in the management of a brothel” as it would not have been proportionate. 

“The facts in terms of what actually was being done are not disputed,” he said. 

“Although not investigated as a crime because a decision was taken that it would not be proportionate, it is conduct which does engage the criminal law.

“Where there is more than one person selling sexual services from a premises it’s a matter of fact… that those premises are likely to be a brothel.

Taylor’s resignation was effective from the day before the hearing, but the independent chair found that the former officer would have been dismissed, with his actions amounting to gross misconduct. 

Misconduct panel chairman Harry Ireland said the misconduct was a deliberate act, adding that it was “akin to a criminal offence” and “acting as a prostitute”.

Taylor did not attend today’s hearing but submitted a document describing the allegations as “part of his private life”. 

He also claimed what he had done was not a business interest and that readers’ comments left below The Sun’s article had been largely supportive, with only a small percentage being negative.

The ex-detective also argued his activities were “an expression of his sexual identity” and that standards change over time – with what was unacceptable in the 1970s or 1980s now acceptable.

He further submitted the force had taken an over-cautious and “prudish” approach to his behaviour.

The officer had 19 years of police service, but had already received a final written warning for neglect of duties relating to a witness intimidation case in which statements were shredded rather than uploaded to a police system.

Det Ch Supt Sam Ridding, head of West Midland’s Professional Standards Department, said: “We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our officers, both on and off duty.

“Like all officers, DC Taylor should not have engaged in activity that was likely to bring discredit on the police service and any business interests should have been declared to be assessed for any potential conflicts of interest with his role within the police. He failed to do that, and his off duty actions brought discredit upon West Midlands Police.”