Detective Sues Police Force Over Alleged Cover-Up of Fiancée's Affair
A detective who claims he caught his policewoman fiancée cheating on him with a colleague at work is now suing North Wales Police for an alleged cover-up of the misconduct. Andrew Fearon, who was engaged to fellow officer Detective Constable Rebecca Hutt, is taking legal action against the force, seeking substantial damages for personal injury and loss of earnings.
Allegations of Infidelity and Misconduct
According to court documents filed at the High Court in Liverpool, the incident dates back to summer 2018 when Fearon and Hutt were both serving as detective constables. Fearon alleges that Hutt confessed to having an affair with a colleague, Detective Constable Shaun Parry, at the St Asaph police station in Denbighshire. He subsequently filed a formal complaint, accusing the pair of conducting their relationship on police premises.
The legal filings further claim that Parry is a known sexual predator and allege that members of the force conspired to protect him from disciplinary action. Instead of facing a misconduct panel, Parry was transferred to a station in Wrexham. He was later dismissed without notice in 2019 over separate allegations of inappropriate behaviour with another female colleague.
Investigation and Subsequent Marriage
In November 2017, North Wales Police assigned Detective Superintendent Steve Williams to investigate Fearon’s claims. Williams concluded the investigation by recommending no further action, allowing Hutt to remain in her post. However, court papers allege that Williams was in a sexual relationship with Hutt while actively investigating her and used his rank to influence the outcome in her favour. Williams and Hutt later married in 2022.
After discovering this relationship, Fearon says he told a colleague he intended to arrest Williams for gross misconduct. That same evening, Fearon claims the force deactivated his access fob, barring him from police premises. Following the force's denial of his request for an external investigation, he resigned from his position.
Legal Action and Damages Sought
Andrew Fearon is seeking a total of £344,000 in damages, including £200,000 for personal injury and £144,000 for loss of earnings. He claims the force's failure to impartially investigate his complaints resulted in severe psychiatric injury and financial ruin. Fearon, who took four months of stress leave, later accused his ex-fiancée of coercive control, domestic violence, and fraud.
Solicitor David Miers, representing Fearon, stated: "Mr Fearon's case centres on North Wales Police's failure to undertake an impartial investigation in light of the alleged offences and the relationships Ms Hutt was having with other officers. The failure to do that left Mr Fearon feeling isolated and unsupported, which ultimately resulted in a very serious psychiatric injury."
Denials and Responses
Steve Williams, who has since retired, strongly denies having a relationship with his now-wife Hutt at the time of the investigation. He called Fearon's claims malicious, without substance, and a continuum of harassment. Shaun Parry declined to comment on the case, stating he had moved on with his life. Rebecca Hutt, who is still a serving officer, also declined to comment.
The case is scheduled for a hearing at a Liverpool court in July, where these allegations will be examined in detail. This lawsuit highlights significant concerns about internal police investigations and potential conflicts of interest within law enforcement agencies.
