Prison for officer after admitting contacting prostitutes and filming sex act on duty

An officer’s “enviable” police record has been left in tatters after being jailed when his obsession with prostitutes ran out of control, a court heard.

Police Constable Luke Smith filmed himself performing a solo sex act at his police station while on duty and sent clips to women.

The father-of-two called himself the “horny policeman” in his messages to them — sending the videos as part of his “sexual thrill” — as well as accessing the police database to look up details about another woman for a friend.

Officers in Hastings, East Sussex became suspicious of PC Smith when his mobile phone was seized.

The 34-year-old — dismissed after the promise of a “long career” with Sussex Police — admitted misconduct in public office at Lewes Crown Court. He was sent to prison for 15 months.

Chief Constable Giles York said PC Smith had an “enviable” working record, having played a key role in murder, kidnap and stabbing investigations.

But he added the public must be able to trust police to behave properly and handle sensitive information, and PC Smith had “failed in both of these tests”.

Judge Charles Kemp said PC Smith engaged in a relationship over a four-year period with one of the prostitutes and sent text messages and videos of himself carrying out a sex act in his capacity as a police officer.

He said: “You used police systems to obtain details of another female when she had complained to the police about an incident. This was not for a lawful, policing purpose. You accepted this in your second interview.”

The judge added: “If it were not for these matters, you could have looked forward to a long career in the police service — yet you have thrown that all away.

“There is a very real tragedy of the consequences of your actions for you and your family.”

PC Smith was suspended when the allegations came to light and dismissed from the force during a disciplinary hearing held in his absence last month, where he was found guilty of gross misconduct.

Deputy Chief Constable Robin Smith said the ex-officer had tarnished the name of the force and “abjectly failed the people of Sussex who put their trust in us”.

He added: “No employer anywhere can be absolutely certain that the person they interview, vet and employ will not at some point prove a major disappointment to them, but when it does happen we will respond openly and honestly about the action we have taken.”