A senior police officer accused of criminal misconduct after meeting a woman for sex while on duty told a jury yesterday that he kept in his radio earpiece during the ten-minute encounter in case of emergencies.

Masood Khan, 41, a British Transport Police inspector, was in full uniform when he arranged to meet the woman, 43, for sex in a police room at Gatwick station in July last year, Southwark Crown Court was told. Mr Khan, whose responsibilities included responding to possible terrorist attacks, met the woman on the internet singles site uniformdating.com.

His conduct had been wrong “professionally and morally”, he said, but denied that it had interfered with his duties as an inspector; his colleagues could have contacted him on his radio had he been needed. Kevin Baumber, for the defence, asked him: “What would you have done if you were called away?” Mr Khan replied: “If it’s a call for me I would have answered it and dealt with it.”

Mr Khan admits using a marked police car to drive from Victoria to Gatwick despite having responsibility for the safety of passengers in part of the South East. But investigators found no evidence that he had left any work undone or made himself uncontactable.

Michael Mulkerrins, for the prosecution, said: “He did not have a legitimate reason for using that room. His conduct was premeditated . . . It was not coincidental he had a uniform on that day.” But Mr Baumber said: “There is an important distinction between misbehaviour and criminal misconduct. This is a criminal court, not a moral court. It is doubtful this case would have been brought if he had gone for a game of golf.”

Mr Khan denies wilful misconduct. The trial continues.

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