Gerard Hutchings

A former police inspector has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual offences against young men in custody.

Gerard Hutchings, 67, abused 18 young men, aged in their late teens to early 30s, in custody at police stations in Hampshire between 1999 and 2007.

He made the men remove their clothes before subjecting them to sexual assaults, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Hutchings had denied five charges of indecent assault, five of causing a person to engage in a sexual activity without consent, and one of misconduct in a public office. A jury found him guilty on all counts.

The former police inspector previously admitted to 17 counts of misconduct in public office.

The 18 victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were subjected to unjustified and illegal strip searches by Hutchings while being handed a caution or reprimand for minor offences like shoplifting or possessing cannabis, the court heard.

He also sexually assaulted some of them during these procedures.

Hutchings, from Southampton, was previously jailed for 16 months in 2008 after admitting to 11 counts of misconduct in a public office for similar offending.

He was sacked by Hampshire Police in 2007 following the complaints.

In 2020, the force launched a new investigation after receiving a report from a man who was similarly searched by Hutchings in 2005. Officers identified a further 17 victims from 373 people who were named in Hutchings' police notebook.

Judge William Hart told Hutchings that his abuse of the victims was "made more grave by the seniority of your rank".