Former Avon and Somerset Police officer admits sharing pictures of dead man
A former Avon and Somerset Police[1] officer has admitted to sharing images of a dead man. Lewis Wood, aged 42 and from Bridgwater, pleaded guilty to three counts of misconduct in a public office. An investigation was carried out by the force’s Counter Corruption Unit and Wood admitted the offences at Exeter Crown Court today (December 1).
He pleaded guilty to sharing images and videos with family and friends relating to a number of incidents and investigations he attended between December 2018 and August 2020, including sharing images of a deceased man. The 42-year-old worked for Avon and Somerset Police until 2021. He will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, February 9.
Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: “This has been a hugely distressing case for the victims and I am sorry for what they have been put through. “Lewis Wood’s decision to wilfully share sensitive images and videos to friends and family violated the trust members of the public put in him and us. His actions not only fell significantly below the standards we expect of officers but were criminal.
“There can be no doubt public confidence in policing has been eroded by his conduct, even though he has no active role in policing anymore.
“Once his actions came to light, a thorough investigation was carried out by our Counter Corruption Unit and we’ve worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service throughout to build a strong case and to achieve these guilty pleas at Exeter Crown Court today (Friday 1 December).”
References
- ^ Avon and Somerset Police (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Primary school just outside Bristol rated as ‘requires improvement’ (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Elderly and disabled ‘abandoned, isolated and forgotten’ by South Bristol bus cuts (www.bristolpost.co.uk)