Ex-UK police inspector jailed for sexually abusing men during strip searches
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Gerard Hutchings used his status as a senior officer to prey on victims aged between 17 and 31, during unjustified strip searches which he carried out in private.
PHOTO: HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT POLICE
- Gerard Hutchings, a former UK police inspector, was jailed for 10 years for sexually abusing 18 young men during unlawful strip searches from 1999 to 2007.
- He used his senior officer status to carry out private, unjustified strip searches away from colleagues' view.
- Hutchings was convicted of multiple counts including indecent assault and misconduct in public office, with prosecutors condemning his abuse of power.
AI generated
LONDON - A former British police inspector was jailed for 10 years on July 24 for sexually abusing 18 young men during unlawful strip searches while they were in custody, prosecutors said.
Gerard Hutchings, 67, used his status as a senior officer to prey on the victims, aged between 17 and 31, during unjustified strip searches which he carried out in private, away from the scrutiny of colleagues.
The offences took place between 1999 and 2007, and Hutchings was convicted of five counts of decent assault, five counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of misconduct in public office.
He had previously pleaded guilty to 17 further counts of misconduct in public office.
“Gerard Hutchings carried out a sustained abuse of power, using his position as a police inspector to target young men who were entitled to expect lawful and professional treatment,” senior prosecutor Anthony Johns said in a statement. REUTERS