A police officer has been issued an official warning for failing to search Kerry Katona 's ex-husband George Kay on the night he died from allegedly eating cocaine.
Kay, 39, died last July hours after being found in a distressed state by staff at a Holiday Inn in Cheshire.
A source told the Liverpool ECHO how Kay had been acting erratically and refused to return to his room, prompting staff to call police.
Officers attended at 9.54pm, on July 5, but are believed to have left the hotel after Kay agreed to return to his room.
It is then claimed hotel staff went to check on the dad, at around 10am on Saturday, only to witness the former Rugby League star "eating" suspected cocaine, which had been placed on a desk.
Now a Cheshire Police misconduct hearing has concluded with an officer, who has not been named, receiving a written warning for "failing to take positive action."
A notice posted on the Force website stated: "A police officer failed to take positive action when dealing with a guest at The Holiday Inn in Runcorn on 5 July 2019.
"The officer failed to search the guest despite there being reasonable grounds to do so.
"The officer failed to seize a small quantity of a substance believed to be a controlled drug in the bathroom of the hotel room.
"The officer switched off their body worn video prior to entering the bathroom where the substance believed to be a controlled drug was found.
"The actions of the officer were not captured."
The force said it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which investigates any potential failings or wrong-doing by police officers.
A spokesman from Cheshire Police said at the time: "At 9.54pm on Friday, July 5, police received a report of concern for the safety of a 39-year-old man at a hotel on Wood Lane, Sutton Weaver.
"Officers attended and spoke to the man, as well as hotel staff. All parties agreed that he could remain at the hotel.
"At 10.11am on Saturday, July 6, police received a further report of concern for the man’s safety.
"Due to the information provided the caller was advised to contact North West Ambulance Service for assistance.
"Paramedics attended the hotel and the man was taken to Warrington General Hospital for treatment, where he sadly later died.
"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
"As with any death following police contact, Cheshire Constabulary has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct."
The ECHO understands staff at the hotel were offered counselling to cope with the traumatic incident.
The Holiday Inn said at the time it could not comment on any specific incident but said it is supporting its staff.
Kay, who is the father of Kerry's youngest daughter Dylan-George, aged five, was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Kerry was heartbroken after being told about his death.
The former sportsman, who was married to the Atomic Kitten star between 2014 and 2017, had a history of mental health issues and drug use.
The pair met as teenagers while at school in Warrington.
