Former Police Inspector Found Guilty of Sexual Offences Against Young Men in Custody
A former police inspector is facing a significant prison sentence after being convicted of a series of sexual offences against young men while they were in custody. Gerard Hutchings, aged 66, subjected eight complainants to sexual assaults, forcing them to remove their clothing during unnecessary strip searches at police stations across Hampshire over an eight-year period.
Details of the Abuse and Court Proceedings
Bristol Crown Court heard the distressing details of the abuse. Hutchings had denied 11 charges, which included five counts of indecent assault, five counts of causing a person to engage in a sexual activity without consent, and one count of misconduct in public office. Despite his denials, a jury convicted him on all counts. He had previously admitted to 17 counts of misconduct in a public office at an earlier hearing.
The charges related to a total of 18 victims who were alone with Hutchings in his private office at the police station. The complainants, aged in their late teens to early 30s and who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had been arrested for minor offences such as shoplifting and possessing cannabis. They reported being subjected to an unjustified and illegal strip search by Hutchings while being administered a caution or reprimand for a minor offence. He also sexually assaulted some of them during these procedures.
Victim Testimonies and Emotional Impact
During the trial, eight victims gave evidence of how they felt during these unwarranted strip search procedures. One victim, who had been arrested for shoplifting, described how he was "humiliated" by Hutchings. "There was nothing ordinary that day. He was trying to humiliate me. I am well aware of the things done to me and he was trying to humiliate me," he told the jury. "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."
Previous Convictions and Police Investigation
Hutchings had previously been jailed in 2008 after admitting 11 misconduct in a public office offences for similar offending. Hampshire Police sacked him in 2007 after the complaints were made following a fast-track disciplinary procedure. In 2020, the force started a new investigation after receiving a report from a man who had been subject to a similar strip search in 2005.
As part of the investigation, officers cross-referenced Hutchings' police notebook with police records to identify 373 people who came into contact with him at a station. All those people were visited in person by officers, who used a non-leading questionnaire to establish whether they had been subject to any offences. From there, a further 17 people provided statements on video detailing their experience of Hutchings.
Police Response and Sentencing
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob France said: "When someone comes into contact with our officers and staff, they should be treated with respect and professionalism. Hutchings' behaviour was vile and degrading and clearly nowhere near the expectation we have of our officers. He was rightly sacked from the force when his offences first came to light in 2007. In 2020, when we received another report of his offending from around the same time period, we undertook a thorough investigation to establish the extent of Hutchings' offending. 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."
Hutchings, of Ashurst, Southampton, will be sentenced on July 24, with expectations of a lengthy prison term given the severity and pattern of his offences.
