Police officers who took explicit photographs of a woman are found guilty of gross misconduct

Two police officers who took explicit photos of a woman have been found guilty of gross misconduct.

PC Ben Pitelen, 45, and PC Mark Crompton, were on duty for Hertfordshire Constabulary when they went to the home of the woman, known as Ms A, in January 2013.

While inside, Crompton took a photograph of Pitelen, who was in his uniform, as he stood next to the woman who was half naked, a misconduct hearing in Welwyn Garden City was told.

PC Ben Pitelen (pictured), 45, and PC Mark Crompton, were on duty for Hertfordshire Constabulary when they went to the home of the woman, known as Ms A, in January 2013

The officers, who did not have a legitimate policing purpose to stop at the woman’s home, also encouraged her to use a sex toy, The Times reports.

The officers had previously picked up the woman in their car while they were on duty together in December 2012 and had taken explicit photographs of her while she was intoxicated.

In a statement Ms A said she was unable to remember the photographs that had been taken of her in the car.

She also said that she had met Crompton socially and had gone on to have a consensual sexual relationship with him.

During the misconduct hearing, Pitelen and Crompton were found guilty of gross conduct.

The incident came to light after an investigation was launched into Pitelen for making indecent images of children.

Ms A said she was unable to remember the photographs that had been taken of her in the car.(Stock image)

Pitelen was sentenced to 25 months’ imprisonment on February 4 after officers found more than 500 indecent images of children on his digital devices.

The officer pleaded guilty to corruption and making indecent images of children.

In a police report  Chief Constable Charlie Hall said ‘this is a most serious of cases’ and has ‘significant potential to undermine confidence in policing’. 

A police report concluded: ‘The actions of PC Pitelen have been far removed from those expected of a professional police officer. 

‘His actions undermine confidence in policing and its reputation, he has fallen very short of acceptable standards and failed to protect the public.

‘Considering the purpose of these misconduct proceedings there is no other reasonable or acceptable outcome that I can reach in this case other than to sanction PC Pitelen with dismissal without notice. 

‘Nothing else would be an acceptable outcome in such a serious case for either the public or the police service itself.’