A Barking and Dagenham police officer has been fired from the force for “discreditable conduct” because of online communications he had with girls under the age of 16.

At the Metropolitan Police’s offices in Fulham today, a hearing heard how Pc William Jarvis engaged in sexual conversations with a number of girls under the age of 16 despite knowing their age.

“It doesn’t matter about age so long as we get on,” said Jarvis over Skype to one 14-year-old victim.

The hearing heard how Jarvis inquired about the ages of several of his victims, and upon learning they were underage proceeded to have conversations of a sexual nature.

Jarvis said to one victim: “I’ve got no boxers on, if that interests you.”

To another he described himself masturbating, as well as making sexually explicit comments about their appearance.

When speaking to one girl, who was over 16 at the time, he told her he was “checking out” her breasts from when she was 14.

Jarvis did not appear at the hearing, which lasted around 20 minutes, but did submit a statement which was read out.

In it he said he was “going through a hard time” when the conversations took place.

He added: “I fully accept that my behaviour was inappropriate. I would like to apologise for any embarrassment that has been brought on the Metropolitan Police by my actions.”

The conversations took place between 2010 and 2012, during which time Jarvis was a special constable in his 20s, and were not uncovered until 2016 when Jarvis was investigated by the child exploitation centre.

Jarvis was not prosecuted because of a lack of evidence, however during the hearing it was noted changes in the law mean that were this incident to occur again it would be likely to constitute a criminal offence.

In the hearing it was not mentioned how he came into contact with the girls he targeted. A detailed report is due to be filed by assistant commissioner Martin Hewitt, who presided over the case, within the next five days.

Mr Hewitt closed the case by saying “no evidence of mitigation has been submitted,” before relieving Jarvis of his duties with immediate effect.