UK police officers handed 106 years of sentences since January 2022

REVEALED: 54 police officers were convicted of crimes ranging from rape to child exploitation over the last year

  • EXCLUSIVE: In 23 UK forces , 54 officers were handed sentences in 13 months 
  • In total, the sentences combined amount to 106 years, eight months and 12 days
  • Offences range from rape to child exploitation, assault and misconduct 

There are 54 police officers across the UK who were convicted of crimes and handed sentences totalling more than 106 years in the 13 months since January 1, 2022.

Shocking data collated by Misconduct 999 highlights the sheer amount of criminals hiding behind a uniform and vow to serve their community.

Within 23 forces across the nation, 54 officers were pulled from duties and handed custodial sentences, some of which were wholly suspended, meaning they will not serve any time behind bars unless convicted of another crime.

Offences range from rape to child exploitation, assault and misconduct, with three female officers among those convicted.

In total, the sentences combined amount to 106 years, eight months and 12 days.

Amid mounting community outrage over officers engaging in criminal activity, the Home Office has ordered every police force in England and Wales to check all their police against national databases by the end of March.

Within 23 forces across the nation, 54 officers were pulled from duties and handed custodial sentences. This graphic shows the forces with the highest number of convicted cops in 2022

There are 54 police officers across the UK who were convicted of crimes and handed sentences totalling more than 106 years in the 13 months since January 1, 2022

In the Met Police department, 16 officers have received custodial sentences totalling  30 years, 10 months, three days for offences ranging from assault to making indecent images of children and intimidating witnesses.

In the same reporting window, seven officers have been cleared of wrongdoing, three handed non-custodial punishments and 19 are awaiting further court dates.

And Hertfordshire Constabulary had three officers sentenced to a total of 21 years, four months – including one officer convicted of four counts of rape.

Constable James Ford, 31, was jailed for 18 years and three months for sexually assaulting a child aged under 13.

PC Ben Pitelen, from the same force, was handed a two year sentence after officers found more than 500 indecent images of children on his digital devices.


Constable James Ford (left), 31, was jailed for 18 years and three months for sexually assaulting a child aged under 13 . PC Ben Pitelen (right), from the same force, was handed a two year sentence after officers found more than 500 indecent images of children on his digital devices 

Six officers from the Greater Manchester Police were handed custodial sentences from January 2022, amounting to 14 years and seven months behind bars.

A further five officers are awaiting further court appearances, two were sentenced to non-custodial sentences and one was cleared of criminal offences.

Of the six officers handed custodial sentences, three were convicted of indecent actions against children.

Lee Cuncliffe was jailed for eight years and four months distributing an indecent image of a child and attempting to facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.

Constable Lee Ashcroft avoided serving his sentence for indecent images of children behind bars, instead receiving 10 months, wholly suspended, along with 120 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation. 

Lee Cuncliffe (pictured) was jailed for eight years and four months distributing an indecent image of a child and attempting to facilitate the commission of a child sex offence 


Ben Lister (left) was jailed for 10 years for raping a ‘paralytic’ woman who went on to give birth to his child. Oliver Perry-Smith (right), of Thames Valley Police, is the only officer from the force currently serving a custodial sentence

West Yorkshire Police has three officers serving a combined 11 year, eight month sentence for offences including possessing an extreme pornographic image and rape. Two of the officers were handed suspended sentences, while one is completing his sentence behind bars.

One officer was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to five counts of making and possessing indecent images of children.

Police Sergeant Ben Lister was jailed for 10 years for raping a ‘paralytic’ woman who went on to give birth to his child.

Oliver Perry-Smith, of Thames Valley Police, is the only officer from the force currently serving a custodial sentence.

He was jailed for three years and six months for misconduct in public office. 

Probationary constable James Watts, of West Mercia Police, was jailed for 20 weeks after he sent racist memes and jokes mocking the death of George Floyd 


PC Claire Ford (left), 39, illegally disclosed details about suspects to a wealthy businessman who sought revenge after a burglary. Constable Gareth Duggan (right) pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two female colleagues at a Christmas party 

Thames Valley Police has one officer awaiting a court date, while another was handed a non-custodial punishment.

Probationary constable James Watts, of West Mercia Police, was jailed for 20 weeks after he sent racist memes and jokes mocking the death of George Floyd. 

From the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, constable Shaun Mandale is the only officer currently serving a custodial sentence. He was handed two years and nine months behind bars after pleading guilty to six charges of making and possessing indecent and prohibited images of children and possession of extreme pornographic images.

North Wales Police also have one officer serving a sentence in the community. Constable Gareth Duggan pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two female colleagues at a Christmas party.

The married 38-year-old avoided prison after successfully arguing any time spent behind bars would impact his family.


Bedfordshire Police inspector John Nichols (left), 51, trawled chat rooms for potential victims. South Wales Police chief inspector Joseph Jones (right) was jailed for 14 months for misusing his force’s computer to search confidential details for a woman he was having an affair with

Bedfordshire Police inspector John Nichols is the only officer from that department who was jailed in the year from January 2022.

He was jailed for two-and-half years and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order for attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence. 

And in South Yorkshire Police force, Nabeel Khan was jailed for two years for his ‘audacious’ decision to supply cannabis to members of the public while in office.

IOPC Director of Major Investigations Steve Noonan said: ‘This officer’s behaviour was audacious, corrupt and criminal. His actions were a complete betrayal of public trust and confidence and have no place in policing.

‘This investigation has now resulted in a conviction and lengthy sentence for former PC Khan. It sends a clear signal to police officers who engage in corrupt activity that they will be caught, and they can expect to pay a high price for their crimes.

‘While all the evidence we have seen points towards this being an isolated case of police corruption on this scale, we have to remain vigilant and will continue to pursue allegations of corruption vigorously.’

Northumbria Police officer Helen Kane (pictured), 38, was found ‘slumped’ against the driver side of the police van when a dog walker passed by

In the 13 months since January 2022, two British Transport Police have been convicted of sex offences.

One received a two-year suspended sentence after he was convicted of three counts of sexual assault against a female colleague.

A second officer was handed a six month sentence suspended for 18 months after he attempted to communicate with a 12-year-old girl online, not realising it was an undercover police officer.

One cop from Cheshire Constabulary is serving a sentence in the community, the data reveals.

PC Claire Ford, 39, illegally disclosed details about suspects to a wealthy businessman who sought revenge after a burglary. 

She admitted three offences against the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and disclosing personal data without consent at Chester Crown Court in December last year and received an eight month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Another cop from the same force is awaiting a court date.

Marc Hopkins, a constable at Northumbria Police, was jailed for three months after sending sexual messages to women whose details he obtained through work

South Wales Police chief inspector Joseph Jones was jailed for 14 months for misusing his force’s computer to search confidential details for a woman he was having an affair with.

Separately, two officers from Essex Police have been handed custodial sentences in the 13 month reporting period, both suspended to be served in the community.

One officer was charged with assault, and the other possessing indecent images of children.  

Staffordshire Police had one officer on the list, guilty of affray.

The data reveals three officers from West Midlands Police were sentenced.

PC Neville Bridgewood was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for shoving a bus passenger, but has since been released after revealing he would appeal the decision. 


PCSO Thomas Daley, pictured outside Southwark Crown Court, admitted Misconduct in Public Office after he made inappropriate approaches to a woman who had complained about a noisy neighbour

Two officers from the department are awaiting court dates, while one was cleared in the same period of criminal allegations.

Three cops will face court ‘every week’ to face criminal charges as Scotland Yard continues bid to root out rogue officers: READ MORE 

Northumbria Police officer Helen Kane, 38, was sentenced to six months, suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, and complete a 12 month alcohol treatment programme after she was found ‘slumped behind the wheel of her patrol car clutching a bottle of wine more than three times the drink-drive limit’.

Marc Hopkins, a constable from the same force, was jailed for three months after sending sexual messages to women whose details he obtained through work.

One officer from Wiltshire Police was also sentenced in the same period.

Darren Thorn, 44, was jailed for nine months in early 2022 for misconduct after he had sex with a vulnerable domestic abuse victim after looking up her details on the force’s computer.

Just one officer from Kent Police received a custodial sentence in the same window, Thomas Daley.

Daley was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, during which time he must carry out 150 hours unpaid work in the community. He must also attend 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

In Northamptonshire Police force, one officer was given a custodial sentence and three handed alternative deterrents.

Lee Morgan, 46, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault during a night out with colleagues where he was the most senior officer present

Oliver Binns, who had already resigned from the Force, was jailed in mid 2022 for seven months after being found guilty of misconduct in a public office. He had made inappropriate contact with a vulnerable woman following her release from police custody.

Cleveland Police sergeant Lee Morgan resigned before he had a chance to be dismissed and he was handed a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, as well as having to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

He sexually assaulted two female colleagues at a drunken Christmas party in December 2021, and was sentenced earlier this month.

Superintendent Christopher Fisher Wright of the City of London Police, is the only cop from that jurisdiction to be handed a sentence in the reporting period.

Fisher Wight was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children in February 2022 and by May was sentenced to 26 weeks custody suspended for 18 months, 200 hours unpaid work and 40 days rehabilitation.

He will spend seven years on the Sex Offender Register.

Humberside Police constable Kate Elston was also sentenced in 2022. She received a six-month sentence suspended for two years after admitting passing confidential information to a member of the public.

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