AN Avon and Somerset Police officer drove a car without supervision - even though she had not passed her test, it is claimed.

PC Shannon Carnell faces a misconduct hearing on Monday (October 4) accused of driving to a rugby club "on a regular basis".

When challenged by two superior officers, Carnell is said to have lied, claiming she had been driven by a friend.

The hearing will be told that she failed her test on New Year's Eve last year.

It will be claimed she drove to Keynsham Rugby Club "without supervision on a regular basis" and on one occasion to Shepton Mallet Station between January 25 and February 15 this year.

She is also accused of not displaying L plates "placing other road users at risk".

Carnell has already received a fixed penalty notice, paid a £100 fine and received three penalty points for driving without the correct licence.

The misconduct hearing panel will be told that "on a number of occasions" she told a colleague a friend would be accompanying her home, which was "untrue".

When spoken to by two sergeants, Carnell said she had been driven to and from the rugby club by a friend, although she later admitted she had "only driven once alone", subsequently changing that to "a couple of times".

Carnell is accused of breaching the Standards of Professional behaviour. If the allegations are proven, it would amount to gross misconduct.