A special sergeant who offered to have simulated rape with a vulnerable woman while in police uniform committed gross misconduct, a tribunal panel ruled. Neil Young, based in South Gloucestershire, told the female in a series of WhatsApp messages that he would “cuff, choke and abuse her”, an Avon & Somerset police misconduct hearing was told.
The former volunteer officer, who has since resigned, also sent her a photo of a road accident he was attending while on duty with no policing purpose. Barrister Mark Ley-Morgan, representing the force, told the hearing that the pair met online and exchanged texts between December 12, 2022, and January 6, 2023.
He said: “He identified himself as a police officer and indicated that he was willing to meet her while on duty and have sex while wearing police uniform. He told Miss A he would cuff, choke and abuse her, fake arrest her and drag her into the bushes.
“He made frequent references to engaging in consensual rape. He told her he would enjoy sex while she was crying and that he would have sex with her and another police officer.”
Mr Ley-Morgan said the officer called her a “slut” and a “chav”. In a police interview, the woman said she had mental health issues that caused her to engage in “extremely risky” sexual behaviour with strangers.
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Mr Ley-Morgan said Special Sgt Young denied knowing about her issues, and the constabulary did not allege that he did. He said the officer sent her three photos of himself in police uniform taken at Thornbury beat office.
The barrister said the ex-special sergeant insisted he had no intention of actually meeting Miss A and was just playing along with her fantasies. Mr Ley-Morgan told the hearing on Wednesday, February 19: “He denied having a dim view of women.
“Any reasonable person reading those messages would believe he got sexual pleasure from that sort of behaviour and that he was a misogynist with a very worrying attitude to women. “It is appalling behaviour that any right-minded person would find disgraceful.”
Panel chair and former Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden ruled that Special Sgt Young would have been sacked if he was still serving. In an impact statement, the victim said: “I found coming forward to report his behaviour very, very hard.
“I did not trust that the police would listen to me. It took a long time to build up the courage to report it.
“What he said to me about how he feels about wanting to abuse women, his lack of respect and care for me has harmed me, and it continues to harm me whenever I think about it. He abused his position of trust.”
There were no members of the public in the photo of the road crash which showed a car that had overturned. The officer did not attend the hearing and was not represented.
Avon & Somerset Police professional standards department launched an investigation following concerns raised by a third party in December 2022. Special Sgt Young was suspended from duty and resigned in March 2023.
Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said afterwards: “This former Special Constabulary officer’s actions were horrific and shameful and he clearly expressed degrading and offensive views. Those who serve with the Special Constabulary give up their time voluntarily to protect and safeguard their community, so this man’s actions are a gross betrayal of the values and standards expected of him.
“He has severely let down his colleagues and the public, and as a result will no longer be able to work or volunteer in policing or other law enforcement agencies again. We encourage all our staff to call out any inappropriate or discriminatory behaviour, whether they see it, hear it, or are informed about it by a third party, and we have confidential reporting systems in place to allow them to do this.”