Former detective to face fresh misconduct hearing

A former police officer who published intimate photos of a woman on social media without her permission will face a fresh misconduct hearing after new evidence came to light.

Simon Sewell worked as a detective constable in the Kirklees area at the time of the offence, but has since resigned from West Yorkshire Police.

He said the woman could not be identified in the photos, a claim she disputed at a misconduct hearing for Mr Sewell this week.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said a new hearing would take place "in due course".

Mr Sewell, who did not attend the hearing, has admitted 12 offences which breached the standard of police conduct between June 2020 and May 2023.

They include sharing photos of crime scenes, making disparaging comments about the account of a woman who claimed to have been raped and accessing police records without a lawful purpose.

He told investigators he had been acting under duress when the breaches took place.

West Yorkshire Police said Mr Sewell was not charged with any criminal offences in relation to the breaches.

The new evidence in his case was produced while the panel had been deliberating.

The spokesperson said: "The panel have accepted that this new evidence should be considered as part of the case.

"As a result, the panel have now recused themselves from the case and a new hearing will be arranged to hear all the evidence in full in due course."

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