DETECTIVE Superintendent Steve Fulcher, who led the Sian O'Callaghan murder investigation, has been found guilty of gross misconduct, the Adver understands.

DSI Fulcher faced three allegations of gross misconduct over alleged breaches of force policy and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Today he was reportedly found guilty of gross misconduct on two of the three charges but the sanction has yet to be decided.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: "Wiltshire Police will not be in a position to comment on the Formal Conduct Hearing of Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher until this process concludes.

"It is likely that the hearing will conclude tomorrow."

Last year, the Independent Police Complaints Commission found DSI Fulcher had a case to answer to over breaches of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act while interviewing Sian’s killer Chris Halliwell at Barbury Castle and later in Uffington.

DSI Fulcher was found by the IPCC’s investigation to have three counts of gross misconduct to answer to in relation to breaching the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and for going against the force’s media policy and guidance.

The detective’s actions led to vital evidence against Chris Halliwell for Becky’s murder being ruled inadmissible by a High Court judge, which was the subject of Becky’s dad John Godden’s complaint to the police watchdog.

Becky Godden-Edwards’ body was found in a field in Eastleach shortly after Sian’s was discovered at Uffington, but his confessions were inadmissible due to breaches of the PACE code.

Halliwell, 49, of Ashbury Avenue, Nythe, was jailed for life for Sian’s murder but the second charge for Becky’s murder was withdrawn due to a subsequent lack of evidence.

The conduct panel, made up of a chief constable and chief superintendent from other forces and an independent member of the public, will be tasked with deciding whether or not DSI Fulcher committed gross misconduct in relation to the case.

The panel was directed to be heard in private by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, and Wiltshire Police advised the media to stay away during the hearing.