Police officer made men strip before sexually assaulting them in UK cop stations | UK | News
Police officer jailed for sexually assaulting men after strip search (Image: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary)
A former police inspector forced men to undress before sexually assaulting them at various police stations in Hampshire. Gerard Hutchings was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of sexual and abuse offenses relating to strip searches at a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on July 24.
The victims, who were between the ages of 17 and 31 at that time, went to the police stations to receive warnings or reprimands for minor crimes. Protesting his innocence, the 67-year-old man falsely subjected 18 male victims to strip searches between 1999 and 2007. He also sexually assaulted some of them. Hutchings denied the accusations and attempted to justify his deplorable behavior by claiming the searches were a way to insulate them from any wrongdoing.
Personal statements from the victim at sentencing detailed the trauma caused by his behavior, the impact it had on their ability to form and maintain relationships, and how this damaged their trust and confidence in the police and authority figures.
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Superintendent Paul Southey praised the victims for their bravery during the investigation and trial.
“It has been incredibly difficult for them to relive a traumatic event from their past that no one should have to experience.
“Hutchings abused the trust placed in him to commit horrific crimes against these young men. His actions had a deep and lasting impact on them. I am deeply sorry for their suffering.”
DCS Southey reiterated that people like Hutchings “have no place in policing” and that the force will do all it can to “root out those who think they can abuse the trust of the people we serve”.
“No sentence can undo what Hutchings did, but I hope there is some comfort in knowing he is facing consequences for his actions,” he added.
Hutchings had previously been disciplined for similar offenses. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison in 2008 after pleading guilty to misconduct in public office for similar offenses in 2007. He was dismissed in 2007 following complaints.
Police launched a new investigation in 2020 after receiving a report from a man who was the subject of a similar strip search in 2005.
As part of the investigation, officers compared Hutchings’ police notebook with police records to identify 373 people who had come into contact with him at a police station.
All of these people were visited in person by officers who used a non-directive questionnaire to determine whether they had been subject to any crime. From there, 17 more people made video statements detailing their experiences with Hutchings.
Hutchings, of Wingrove Road, Ashurst, denied 11 charges, including indecent assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. A jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty of all charges following a trial in March this year.
He admitted 17 counts of misconduct in public office at an earlier hearing. He will be subject to a lifetime notification requirement upon release.
The investigation was carried out by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Operation Marmion team, which investigates allegations of non-recent sexual abuse within institutions or by public figures.
