Former PC Atherton
Notice of Accelerated Misconduct hearing
Date: July 13th, 2026
Time: 08.00
Location: Online via MS Teams
ALLEGATIONS
Former PC 08535 Lee Atherton was made the subject of a Domestic Abuse Prevention Order on February 9th, 2025. He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court on April 1st, 2026, and admitted three breaches of the Order and was therefore convicted. He was sentenced at the same court on May 18th, 2026, and received a 16-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months and a 2-year restraining order.
It is alleged that the conviction outlined above amounts to a breach the Standard of Professional Behaviour of Discreditable Conduct: Police officers behave in a manner which does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence in it, whether on or off duty.
There is sufficient evidence in the form of written statements or other documents to establish that on the balance of probabilities, that the conduct outlined above constitutes gross misconduct.
CONDITIONS OF ATTENDANCE
Members of the media and public may attend subject to the following conditions:
Any members of the media or public who wish to attend the hearing must apply to the Chair. All applications should be submitted to the Greater Manchester Police Misconduct Proceedings Unit at [email protected]
Before completing an application to attend please read the conditions of entry to understand what may be required of you on the day. You must confirm that you have read and agreed to abide by the conditions of entry.
The conditions include that the taking of photographs and the use of film or sound recording equipment during the hearing except for official use is prohibited. There may be parts of the hearing which are held in private session. If that is the case, any accredited member of the media or public attending the hearing will be asked to leave during the private session and will be informed by the hearings officer when they can return.
Any accredited members of the media or public attending the hearing must adhere to reporting restrictions imposed by the Chair namely that some parties involved in this case may be referred to by ciphers and will be throughout the proceedings and any public record of it and their identity should not be revealed in any way.
Any accredited members of the media attending the hearing must produce valid identification.
Any accredited members of the media may make written representations upon any reporting restrictions to the Chair. Any such representations are to be submitted to the Greater Manchester Police Misconduct Proceedings Units at [email protected]