Former Sussex Detective Exchanged Sexual Messages While On Duty

Allegations against a former Sussex Police Detective Constable have been proven in a misconduct hearing today (Monday 18).

Police said Former DC Damien Cotgreave, 45, who was based in Hastings, would have lost his job if he had still been serving.

It's after a misconduct hearing today (Monday) found he'd breached professional standards on multiple occasions between December 2019 and February 2020.

The panel, headed by an independent, legally-qualified chairperson, found 18 of the 20 allegations were found proven. 

They include engaging in conversations via social media with 12 female members of the public using his personal mobile phone, whilst on duty.

Some conversations included inappropriate content, such as sexual images or exhibits, or were sexual in nature.

On one occasion, the officer is alleged to have attended the address of one female for in excess of an hour whilst on duty, for a non-policing purpose, and engaged in sexualised behaviour.  

Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell, head of the force's professional standards department, said:

"We expect the highest possible standards of our officers and staff and we take any report of inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously. Former DC Damien Cotgreave’s behaviour is a violation of the trust that the public put in the police to serve and protect them. 

“Cotgreave conducted this unacceptable behaviour when he should have been responding to his policing duties and this falls well below the standards expected in Sussex Police and across policing nationally.

“Officers and staff can be forgiven for making genuine mistakes but the behaviour of this officer was inexcusable, for which we sincerely apologise.”