A DISGRACED Avon and Somerset cop will never be able to serve as a police officer again following his part in a road rage incident.

Stuart Box was off duty when the incident took place following a road traffic accident in April last year, a misconduct hearing was told yesterday (Monday).

Box remonstrated with the driver before a physical confrontation ensued – events he failed to report.

He later resigned from the force, but the hearing ruled that he would have been sacked had he not quit.

The panel ruled that Box’s actions amounted to a breach of professional standards in terms of both discreditable conduct and honesty and integrity.

The panel concluded his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

He will now be barred from serving as a police officer again.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct was kept informed of the matter when Box’s involvement became apparent and ruled the incident was best fully investigated by Avon and Somerset Police.

The evidence of that investigation was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided no criminal charges should be brought.

Superintendent Simon Wilstead, head of the force's professional Standards, said: “Firstly, on behalf of Avon and Somerset Constabulary I would like to take this opportunity to publicly apologise to Mrs Burgum and her family for the incident which involved an off-duty officer.

“Mr Box was not on duty at the time of the incident, but nevertheless we expect a high standard of behaviour by officers, whether they are in or out of uniform, and he failed to meet those ethical standards.

“As a police force we believe in absolute transparency and Mr Box’s failure to report what happened at the earliest opportunity is at odds with what we stand for.

“The IOPC was informed of the incident at the outset and it decided it was happy with Avon and Somerset Police investigating what happened.

"A thorough and proportionate criminal investigation was carried out before the CPS was presented with the evidence.

“The misconduct investigation has subsequently followed leading to today’s (Monday's) outcome.

"Despite the officer resigning, it was important to hold a hearing into the very serious allegations against Mr Box to ensure that, if proven, he would be placed on the barred list.”