A police sergeant who appeared on a popular TV documentary had sex with a probationary officer while he was supposed to be on night shift, a disciplinary hearing has heard.
Ben Sutcliffe, who featured in the Channel 5 show Police Interceptors, also had sex with the junior officer in a car park in broad daylight while they were off-duty, which he described as “risky”.
The temporary sergeant resigned from Cleveland Police in February and did not attend the disciplinary hearing in Stockton, Teesside, today (Wednesday, October 21) chaired by Chief Constable Victoria Fuller.
Ms Fuller outlined the background of the case, saying Mr Sutcliffe was in a supervisory role with the response team based in Stockton, and also a dog handler.
PC Ben Sutcliffe's on the Channel 5 Police Interceptors show (Image: CHANNEL 5)
In June or July 2024, he began a relationship with a female probationary officer named in the proceedings only as PC A.
Mr Sutcliffe is accused of repeatedly lying about their relationship when challenged by the force and told PC A to do the same.
He is alleged to have sent sexually explicit messages, including videos, while he was on duty, to the point where it affected his ability to perform his job.
He was also said to have had sex with PC A in public places, “knowing and intending there was a risk of being caught”.
Mr Sutcliffe was also said to have passed on confidential details of another officer’s arrest to PC A without a proper policing purpose.
Detective Inspector Holly Hunter, of the force’s professional standards department, said rumours of a relationship between Mr Sutcliffe and PC A were investigated in August 2025, and he denied it in interview, saying they were just friends.
But in November last year, PC A told investigators they had been in a relationship since the previous summer, and an examination of her phone showed they had shared 57,568 WhatsApp messages and 6,631 texts.
PC Ben Sutcliffe's on the Channel 5 Police Interceptors show (Image: CHANNEL 5)
A large number of them were sexual in nature, some were sent on duty, others discussed outdoor sex, and they agreed to lie about what they were doing if challenged, Ms Hunter told the hearing.
As an example, the detective said Mr Sutcliffe texted PC A at 1.41am while he was on a night shift in July 2024, asking where to park at her house and leaving the boot of his vehicle open, indicating he was a dog handler.
Ms Hunter said there was a subsequent text at 4.17am indicating “sexual conduct had occurred”.
On another night shift in September 2024, Mr Sutcliffe sent PC A sexually explicit pictures and videos, the hearing was told.
Ms Hunter said mobile phone evidence also revealed the pair had sex in public places.
A message he sent PC A in August 2024 referred to Mr Sutcliffe’s “wish to have sex outside and makes reference to a previous encounter in a car park in broad daylight which he described as risky”, Ms Hunter said.
He suggested possible locations and later texts suggested it had taken place, the hearing was told.
In December 2024, there was a message from Mr Sutcliffe which referred to “enjoying the risk”.
When a member of the professional standards team interviewed Mr Sutcliffe, he stated he and PC A were “merely friends” and suggested the allegations may be “malicious”.
PC Ben Sutcliffe's profile on the TV show (Image: CHANNEL 5)
He later messaged PC A to say he had denied their relationship to investigators and that she should do the same.
Ms Hunter said Mr Sutcliffe revealed confidential details to PC A when another officer was arrested at his home in July 2025 when there was no policing purpose to do so.
She said in August last year, Mr Sutcliffe told PC A he was going to apply for “health and safety jobs” as he was “expecting the worst and needed to get back-up options in place”.
In a vetting interview, he again denied the relationship, saying they “met for dog walks and coffee”.
Ms Fuller said Mr Sutcliffe made a written submission, accepting his conduct amounted to misconduct but suggesting it fell short of gross misconduct.
Ms Hunter said his behaviour “will significantly undermine public confidence in policing”.
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Ms Fuller will decide on a finding of misconduct or gross misconduct later today.
On the Police Interceptor website, Mr Sutcliffe was listed as an advanced driver trained in tactical pursuit, an armed response officer, a medic, a public order instructor and a family liaison officer.
Cleveland Police has previously stated the alleged breaches of standards of professional behaviour related to discreditable conduct; authority, respect and courtesy; honesty and integrity; orders and instructions; confidentiality and challenging improper conduct.