A "bullying" police officer who held a knife to an officer's neck and snared a colleague with a dog catching pole has been sacked.

Sergeant Michael Bromell of Thames Valley Police also shot at fellow officers with a BB gun and threatened to cut another officer's hair with a knife.

He was dismissed without notice for gross misconduct following a hearing on Friday afternoon.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tim De Meyer said Sgt Bromell's colleagues were "subjected to sinister and overbearing treatment".

Sgt Bromell had been working in the Cherwell Local Policing Area. He was dismissed because of a range of incidents:

His conduct was deemed to be gross misconduct and in breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

Det Chief Supt Meyer, head of professional standards, said: "A sergeant should lead, support and encourage officers to serve the public to the highest standards. Sergeant Bromell did quite the opposite.

"This bullying behaviour, from an officer in a position of power, caused considerable distress to junior colleagues who simply wanted to get on with their job of keeping people safe.

"Instead they were subjected to sinister and overbearing treatment from the very person who should have been looking out for them.

"Such oppressive behaviour is extremely rare and a disservice to the many sergeants in this force whose exemplary leadership does a great deal to serve people in our area."