A Mountie accused of having sex with underage prostitutes in Prince George, B.C., has had the disciplinary charges against him thrown out on a technicality.

Const. Justin Harris was appearing before a disciplinary hearing in Vancouver Wednesday.

Harris had argued that the force didn't launch a hearing within the one-year time limit of becoming aware of the alleged misconduct.

The RCMP tribunal agreed with Harris's argument.

In his ruling, the adjudicator said he didn't have the jurisdiction to hear the complaint because the disciplinary hearing should have been launched within a year of the RCMP learning of the allegations.

Daisy Kler of Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter said she was disappointed by the ruling.

"We do not want police 'policing' police, and this is a good example of why not," said Kler.

Const. Harris's father, former RCMP staff sergeant Scott Harris, said the outcome was inevitable.

"You can only assume the fact that they've never found evidence substantial enough to go ahead with criminal charges," he said.

Harris was accused of buying sex from three women under the age of 18 between 1993 and 2001.

Harris was accused after investigators began interviewing young prostitutes involved in a case against a Prince George judge in 2002. 

The judge, David Ramsay, eventually pleaded guilty.

The RCMP have 14 days to file an appeal and are considering their options. 

It's not known what effect the ruling will have on the constable's status with the force. Harris has been off work with pay.

With files from the Canadian Press