Special Constable ‘had sex while his colleague was hiding in wardrobe’

MISCONDUCT HEARING TOLD OF ALLEGED ‘OFFENSIVE’ ACTIONS

A WOMAN had sex with a Derbyshire police officer while not knowing his colleague was “hiding in a wardrobe” in the same room, a hearing has been told.

It is alleged the off-duty incident happened while former Special Constables Luke Chafer and Joshua Hollis were involved in a private Instagram chat group which contained a series of derogatory and sexual comments about women, including female students from the University of Derby.

Alarmingly, comments in the chat were also made about rape and sexual violence.

Both Chafer and Hollis were studying a policing course at the university at the time and had roles as Special Constables for Derbyshire police - which is a voluntary police role but with the same power as regular officers.

Both have since resigned from their positions.

In April last year it was reported that the University of Derby had suspended a number of students involved in the Instagram chat group after details of the conversations became public.

The sexual comments released to the wider world were said to have caused “widespread outrage”.

Despite their resignations, both Chafer and Hollis are now at the centre of a police misconduct hearing after their actions were alleged to be “derogatory and offensive towards female members of the public and colleagues”.

Both former officers face allegations that their conduct amounted to a breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour for “discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy” and “challenging and reporting improper conduct”, contrary to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 – a code which all police officers must adhere to in their line of duty.

The misconduct hearing heard how initially five Special Constables – including others from another police force – were members of the Instagram private group chat titled “You’re ******* getting it”.

Another person was then added to the group chat, making it six participants.

Presenting solicitor David Ring told the hearing that it is alleged some of the comments in the group were about rape and matters relating to sexual violence. There were also frequent references to the TV show The Inbetweeners – a comedy well known for its teenage/adult humour.

Mr Ring said Chafer let a third party in on the group to “wind up” his friends. This person – a woman – then became so concerned about the group’s content she tried to let the victims know publicly via social media. The story then broke out in local and national media when the university suspended the six students involved.

Mr Ring also told an independent panel that it is also alleged that on one occasion both Chafer and Hollis were involved in a situation where the latter would have sex with a woman with other people watching in “secret locations”.

It is alleged that on one occasion Chafer appeared out from the wardrobe after the woman and Hollis became intimate. Another person was seen hiding near the wardrobe around half an hour later.

The woman involved, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not consent to sex while others were in the room, which both Chafer and Hollis were said to be aware of. This made the woman feel “embarrassed” and “exposed”.

But Hollis denies this allegation completely.

In addition, former SC Hollis failed to follow force policy in respect of having incapacitant spray at a personal address and was recently convicted of drink-driving following an arrest in Warrington.

As the pair have since resigned from their roles, an independent panel led by legally qualified chair Henry Gordon must decide whether their alleged actions amount to gross misconduct or not and whether they should face any future consequences as to their careers in policing.

Both Chafer and Hollis have not attended the misconduct hearing.

The hearing continues.