A Police Community Support Office has resigned after he pleaded guilty to being under the influence of alcohol while driving a police car on duty.

PCSO Neil Turnbull resigned from his role at Wiltshire Police earlier this month after the incident, which Wiltshire Police said took place in Salisbury on March 6.

However, court documents said it took place on the A350 at Hindon, near Shaftesbury.

Wiltshire Police confirmed that Turnbull was immediately suspended from the force after officers identified the incident.

Turnbull, 57, was convicted at Swindon Magistrates Court on August 16 after being found to have 44 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his breath at the time of the incident. The legal limit is 35.

Detective Inspector Adam Leakey said: “Clearly, the actions of Mr Turnbull fly in the face of the standards the public rightly expect from us.

“As a direct result of his actions, he could have posed a significant risk to the public, his colleagues and himself.”

“A gross misconduct investigation can now continue and we will keep the public updated as to how this develops.”

As a result of his actions, Turnbull received a driving disqualification of 12 months, which can be reduced by 12 weeks if he attends a driving safety course.

He was also handed a £500 fine, and also has to pay £85 in court costs and a £200 victim surcharge.