Norfolk police sergeant gaslit female officer with sex photo

The sergeant also made sexist comments and derogatory remarks about periods and left the woman, a PC, feeling "gaslit" and fearful of confronting him.

He faced disciplinary action after his behaviour was reported but left the force before the case went to a hearing, where the panel ruled his actions amounted to gross misconduct and that he should be sacked, had he not already resigned.

The panel has now published its findings but has granted the officer anonymity, after he requested it.

This has prompted criticism from campaigners who argue that such an important process should be more transparent, to protect the reputation of the police and reassure the public.

Such anonymity is extremely rare in other comparable professional misconduct cases - such as those involving teachers, doctors or nurses.

The Norfolk Constabulary case comes amid growing public concern and increased scrutiny of police misconduct following a number of high profile scandals.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The hearing was told the officer sent two WhatsApp messages to the female PC’s personal mobile phone in September 2021 including one stating: “I think you're very attractive and would love to go down on you.”

The following day while alone together in the constabulary’s firearms armoury he showed her a photo of a man and woman having sex after asking if she wanted to see a picture of his partner.

The female officer described being left shocked, trapped, distressed and embarrassed. (Image: Newsquest)

The misconduct panel heard she had been left feeling “shocked, trapped, distressed and embarrassed”.

He had then sent her a further WhatsApp message telling her not to forget her end of the bargain, which she had taken to mean that she should show him naked photos.

READ MORE: Norfolk police officer sent sexual pics to female colleagues

WHAT DID THE PANEL SAY?

In its ruling, the three-person disciplinary panel said it considered the officer's behaviour to be a "serious case of misogyny and abuse towards a female officer" and considered the level of harm or distress to be "high”.

If the officer had not already resigned from the force in March 2024, the only appropriate sanction would have been his dismissal without notice, they added.

The female officer had also described how he had also made sexist comments, derogatory comments about periods and other inappropriate behaviour.

She described feeling he was “gaslighting” her and being “fearful of the consequences if she had been honest about how his behaviour was upsetting her”.

Andrew Hearn, the misconduct panel chair, said the officer had previously had an unblemished record and others had described him as empathetic and generally supportive of female colleagues.

However, the panel said his actions had amounted to gross misconduct. 

Mr Hearn added: “His conduct served to undermine the public’s confidence in policing at a time when there is widespread concern about misogynistic behaviour within the police force, the panel having no doubt that his conduct would be viewed very negatively by the public.”

READ MORE: Norfolk trainee police officer sacked for non-consensual sex

WHY IS HIS NAME SECRET?

The misconduct hearing was held in private and the former officer’s name was excluded from the outcome report, after he successfully applied to the chairman of the panel for his identity to remain anonymous.

A Norfolk Constabulary spokeswoman stressed it was not the decision of the force.

“A police officer, or their representative, can ask to remain anonymous," she said.

"It is the decision of the independent legally qualified chair whether or not anonymity is granted. It is not the Constabulary’s decision.

“In this case, an application was made by the former officer, based on the potential impact that naming could have on parties involved in the case.”

READ MORE: ‘We take misconduct seriously’ - Norfolk chief constable

Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich North (Image: UK Parliament)

QUESTIONS RAISED

However, critics have raised questions over the decision to grant anonymity.

It is extremely rare for such anonymity in comparable professional misconduct cases - such as those involving teachers, doctors or nurses.

Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, said: “The problem is that this process thus far has been so opaque it’s not possible to dispel concerns that what may be going on is actually for the benefit of the perpetrator or to deter digging further into how the female victim could have been treated so appallingly while working for an institution whose whole raison d’etre is to protect us all.”

He stressed that the main priority should be to protect the anonymity of the victim and that her needs should be put first.

Norfolk Constabulary declined to clarify the precise reasons for not naming the officer.