Policeman sacked after he sent inappropriate texts
A POLICE officer has been dismissed after an investigation found he had sent hundreds of “overfamiliar and excessive” text messages to women, including crime victims.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation found that Gwent officer PC Robert Davies was found to have breached police professional standards after engaging in the unprofessional messages with the three women, two of whom were vulnerable.
The investigation, carried out by detectives from Gwent Police’s Professional Standards Department, presented findings which indicated that PC Davies had met with the three women during the course of his duties. He was found to have messaged and called the women at various times in the day and during evenings when he was on and off duty.
Over a four-month period PC
Davies sent more than 700 texts to the women, including messages like “I was thinking of you being naughty with me”, “could do with a good night out”, “gorgeous in every way”, and “think about you a lot”.
The hearing was told one woman, known as Ms A, was in contact with PC Davies when her sister was the victim of a crime in January 2020. Jonathan Walters, representing the force, said PC Davies already knew Ms A before the investigation was launched.
The hearing heard how he dealt with the investigation in January 2020, before he went on to send Ms A a text that same evening referring to “naughty dreams”.
The hearing heard how he sent another message in March that year to say: “No hugs till it’s over and after that maybe a kiss too.”
He added: “I expect you are still as much fun as you have always been. I was thinking of you being naughty with me. If that’s OK. I need someone who is fun. You get some rest x.”
The hearing at Gwent Police Old Headquarters heard PC Davies attended the home of another woman, known as Ms C, when she called police about an ex-partner harassing her.
Mr Walters said: “When he called at her home Ms C felt that the officer was becoming far too personal. Text messages were exchanged from April 12, 2020, and some of the messages were entirely inappropriate. For example, the reference to the application of suncream and that meeting her had ‘lifted the mood.’”
The officer was found to have breached the police professional standards of behaviour including integrity, respect and authority, and discreditable conduct.
The panel deemed the messages to be of a sexual nature.
Gwent Police carried out its own investigation into PC Davies in 2020 before referring the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but the CPS decided not to bring any criminal charges against him.
IOPC director of major investigations Steve Noonan said: “The messages PC Davies sent to these women were clearly both overfamiliar and excessive.
“Two of the women were considered to be vulnerable.
“He breached his position of trust by engaging in unprofessional behaviour and his actions had the potential to undermine confidence in policing.”
PC Davies is now barred from working as a police officer in the future.