An ex-police constable who offered to deal steroids would have been dismissed if still in his role, a tribunal has heard.

Aaron Jones, who worked for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), admitted two counts of offering to supply class C drugs on June 14.

At the time, at Liverpool Magistrates' Court, Jones was sentenced to a 12-month community order and some 80 hours of unpaid work.

On November 24, despite his resignation around two and a half years before his sentence, the case was considered by Chief Constable Stephen Watson.

The chief constable said: "The offences committed by Jones support the damaging knowledge that he was recklessly engaged in the supply of steroids, which are known to be very harmful to the individuals foolish enough to use them."

According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which led the investigation, a number of WhatsApp messages referring to steroids were seen on a phone belonging to the ex-police constable. In one of these WhatsApp messages, he said "Did I hear someone say juice...?", a slang term for the class C drugs, and sent a photo of a drawer of medication.

In the absence of mitigation for Jones, the chief constable said he would have been dismissed if still in his role at GMP.

He said: "[Jones's] conduct has rightly given rise to the ruination of his career and the loss of his reputation. [Jones] has conclusively demonstrated his being totally unworthy to carry out the duties that the public entrusted to him. 

"The gravity of this misconduct demands a sanction that fully reflects the seriousness of these matters. For this reason I have determined that had he not already resigned, I would have dismissed him from the force without notice."

Jones was placed on the College of Policing's barred list, where he remains unless he succeeds in a review application.

He cannot start a review application for a minimum of five years.