A Met police officer has been sacked after he was convicted of attacking his girlfriend and sending her a string of hateful Whatsapp messages.

PC Bobby Cooper, based at Harrow police station, was dismissed after subjecting his girlfriend to a torrent of abuse as their 10-month relationship deteriorated last year.

The former Royal Marine had sent her a series of offensive messages, including one in which he branded her a "n***** loving c***", while she was still living with him in a flat in Islington, north London.

The 30-year-old also smashed up her iPhone 5 by hurling it against a wall when she returned home late from a night out and assaulted her.

Cooper was sacked at a Special Case Misconduct Hearing held on Thursday.

Assistant Commissioner Helen King, lead for professionalism and chair of the hearing, said: “This officer's convictions are of very particular concern given the high priority the Metropolitan Police Service gives to ensuring victims of domestic abuse know that any report they make will be treated seriously, with sensitivity and compassion.

"PC Cooper's actions undermine the hard work of his colleagues, across the Met, that endeavour to give domestic abuse victims this confidence.

"They are completely incompatible with him remaining a Police Officer. The sanction in this case is dismissal without notice.”