Ex-police inspector guilty of strip-search assaults

A former police inspector who sexually assaulted young men in custody during unnecessary strip-searches has been found guilty of sexual offences and misconduct.

Gerard Hutchings, 66, abused 18 victims at police stations in Hampshire from 1999 to 2007, police said.

He was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court of five charges of indecent assault, five of causing a person to engage in a sexual activity without consent and one of misconduct in public office.

Hutchings, of Wingrove Road, Ashurst, also admitted 17 counts of misconduct in a public office at a previous hearing. He will be sentenced on 24 July.

The complainants, who had been arrested for minor offences, were aged between 17 and 31, police said.

They attended the stations for a police caution or reprimand, the court heard.

During the trial, eight victims described how they were strip-searched with no justification.

One man, who had been arrested for shoplifting, said: "He was trying to humiliate me.

"I do believe he took great pleasure in pointing out what a piece of scum I was and people like me should not walk the earth, or words to that effect.

"I have been strip-searched before and there was no following of the rules whatsoever. He never took any interest in my clothing."

Hutchings was previously jailed for 16 months in 2008 after admitting 11 charges of misconduct in public office.

Prosecutors at the time accepted not guilty pleas to 11 sexual offences.

The previous court heard that on 11 occasions Hutchings made youths strip and bend over while in custody, although he did not physically assault them.

He was sacked from the Hampshire force in 2007 after 28 years' service.

Police said they began a new investigation in 2020 after receiving a further strip-search allegation.

Detectives said they identified 18 victims from 373 people who were named in Hutchings' police notebook.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob France said: "Hutchings' behaviour was vile and degrading and clearly nowhere near the expectation we have of our officers.

"Thanks to the bravery of the victims in recalling their experience, and the hard work of investigators, Hutchings now faces another spell in prison for his awful behaviour."

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