Detective and married lawyer exposed by their noisy sex in police station
A SENIOR police officer has resigned after he was caught having sex with a married solicitor in a station interview room when colleagues heard moans of passion.
Detective Inspector Ricky Price, 42, was spotted ‘practically naked’ with Rachel Pudner, also 42, while he was on duty.
A community support officer walked in on them after hearing groans coming from the disused interview room.
Price, a father of two, resigned from his £54,000-a-year job after 22 years with the police following the tryst earlier in the month.
He was engaged to Emma Kayes, 33, but the couple’s £300,000 home has now been put up for sale.
Friends said Mrs Pudner, who is a specialist in family law, is also battling to save her marriage to a manager with British Telecom.
The pair knew each other and live only five miles apart.
A police insider said Price was on duty when Mrs Pudner arrived at Cockett station in Swansea to represent a client. The source said: ‘It’s been a bit of a scandal – people were sworn to secrecy but everyone knows what happened.
‘Inspector Price was a career cop who was tipped for further promotion. But he has lost his job all for a quick moment of passion.
‘They were taking a huge risk – they were both practically naked when the PCSO found them at it.’
South Wales Police said the officer had submitted his resignation but a misconduct hearing will still be held.
It is understood he will keep his police pension by resigning before being sacked. But he is still on full pay and remains a serving officer until a disciplinary hearing later this year.
Price, of Jersey Marine, Swansea, is a former rugby player with Aberavon and South Wales Police but retired from the game ten years ago.
Mrs Pudner is a partner in the Swansea law firm Hutchinson Thomas, where she specialises in family law. She is also a member of the Law Society Children Panel.
Her company’s website says: ‘Outside the law, Rachel is devoted to enjoying family time with her children and keeping fit.’
A colleague at the firm claimed that Mrs Pudner was not at work but her black Range Rover was parked outside.
Price’s colleagues at South Wales Police’s western basic command unit have been interviewed by senior officers over the serious breach of discipline.
Chief Superintendent Dorian Lloyd, head of professional standards at the force, said: ‘An internal investigation is ongoing.
‘Once the investigation has taken place, the matter will be subject to a misconduct hearing. Until this is complete it would be inappropriate to comment any further on the allegations.’
The Solicitors Regulation Authority said: ‘We are aware of the issue and will be seeking further evidence before deciding on any next steps.’