A POLICE officer who posted offensive comments about a Falklands War veteran will be investigated by the police watchdog.

PC Jonathan Martin, a member of Southend Central neighbourhood team, joked about the facial scarring suffered by Simon Weston OBE in a bomb attack on the warship he was on in 1982.

Essex Police said PC Martin had been disciplined, the force had apologised to Mr Weston and his family and the matter had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Ex Welsh guardsman Mr Weston, 50, was left with 46 per cent burns when the ship he was aboard, the Sir Galahad, was destroyed in Bluff Cove, in the Falklands Islands.

He endured more than 70 operations and reconstructive surgery.

His agent, Jason Smith, told the Echo: “Simon is not overly concerned by the actual comments the officer posted on the site, but did question his poor judgment and poor taste.

“Essex Police have been incredibly helpful on this matter and have dealt with this unfortunate incident exceptionally well.”

A spokesman for the police said the force was contacted by Mr Weston’s agent in March last year and the officer had been disciplined.

They did not say what had happened to him.

PC Martin, 33, has been an officer since 2003, and covers Victoria, Milton, Kursaal and Clifftown wards.

He says on the neighbourhood team web page: “I am enjoying the challenge of trying to tackle local issues and feel very privileged at having the opportunity to work much closer with the public and local communities.”