Former officer who posted intimate images of women online given Sexual Risk Order

David Lovell had been dismissed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary for gross misconduct following an investigation by force’s Counter Corruption Unit (CCU).

The force applied for the Sexual Risk Order against the 46-year-old, which was granted at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court last week.

It said the order, under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, was applied for to “protect the public, including children and vulnerable adults”. It will last for seven years.

Lovell, who was based in Somerset, was dismissed without notice by Chief Constable Sarah Crew following an accelerated misconduct hearing held in May. He was also added to the national police barred list

The investigation by Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s CCU  began in May 2021 when a woman made contact to report that intimate images of her had been posted on a website.

She told investigators she had consensually shared these images with Mr Lovell previously, but had never given him consent to post them online.

Investigators discovered that intimate images of two other women had also been posted online by him.

“The women were identified and proactively contacted, said the force.

“All three women stated they didn’t wish to proceed with a criminal complaint but were willing to support the misconduct process, on the basis they would be given anonymity.”

Head of Professional Standards, Superintendent Mark Edgington, said: “This former officer abused the confidence placed in him by the complainants in the most distressing of ways.

“The misconduct process saw him dismissed from our police service and prevented from holding another role in policing or law enforcement, but due to the nature of the proven allegations it’s vital we protect the public from his sexualised, predatory and exploitative behaviour.

“The Sexual Risk Order will place a series of strict and prohibitive measures on him designed to stop and prevent him from causing any further harm or distress.

“A breach of the order is a criminal offence for which the maximum penalty on conviction is a five-year prison sentence.

“We take our responsibilities to keep the public safe extremely seriously and taking this action was both necessary and proportionate in this case.”