(Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)
A police officer who performed a disgusting sex act in front of a couple in a County Durham car park has been jailed.
Ryan Adams compounded the offence by using Durham Police’s data system to check whether anyone had reported his behaviour.
The student officer was caught performing the sex act in a Chester-le-Street car park in 2024, Teesside Crown Court heard.
A judge heard how the witnesses were left shocked by the 28-year-old’s behaviour and reported his actions and his car registration to the police force.
Judge Timothy Stead jailed Adams for 15 months.
“This offending began when you went to a public place, in the hours of darkness, which is always a more disturbing factor,” he said.
“You exposed your penis in the presence of two members of the public and you performed a sex act in their sight.
“It caused one of the complainants to find it disgusting and she was shocked by what happened.”
Judge Stead said Adams’s more serious offence was logging on to the force computer to check whether the witnesses had reported him.
He said: “Your offending here was the improper use of police powers. You used your position and police powers to gain access to the force computer systems and you found reference to evidence for the first offence.”
Adams, formerly of Langley Park, admitted outraging public decency and improperly exercising police powers and privileges.
His lawyer, Edmund Cousins, said Adams had been a special constable and staff custody officer before becoming a student officer.
He said Adams had moved to Greater Manchester hoping his homosexuality would be more widely accepted.
“He is acutely aware of how serious the matter is,” he said. “I believe part of his motivation to join the force was to try and redeem himself for having this issue with his sexuality and show what a fine upstanding citizen he could be.”
Durham Police said Adams was suspended as soon as the allegations emerged and will now face an accelerated gross-misconduct hearing.
Assistant Chief Constable Richie Allen said: “Ryan Adams’ actions represent a serious breach of the trust placed in police officers and fall far below the standards expected of any officer.
“As soon as we were made aware of the allegations, Adams was arrested and suspended from duty while a thorough investigation was carried out.
“I hope this investigation sends a clear message that Durham Constabulary will not tolerate this behaviour,”