Firefighter jailed after photographing dead body

Cameron Hancel shared the images on WhatsApp in March last year

A firefighter who was sacked after taking photographs of a victim's body and sending them to social media contacts has been jailed for 20 months.

Cameron Hancel took photographs of Kevin Doughty, a 38-year-old electrician who lay dead after a two-car crash in Himley, Staffordshire, in March last year.

The court heard that Hancel sent the images via WhatsApp alongside an "offensive and mocking commentary".

Hancel, 34, had pleaded guilty in August to misconduct in public office while working for West Midlands Fire Service by taking mobile phone photos of the victim and sending them to other people.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told at Friday's sentencing hearing that Hancel, of Chichester Drive, Rowley Regis, was caught by chance after images he had shared were found on a friend's phone.

They were found during a police inquiry into the friend's death, which occurred around a week after the photographs were sent.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Chambers KC told Hancel: "Members of the public expect to be able to place their trust in members of the emergency services."

The judge said the father-of-two "deliberately spoke of the deceased in derogatory and offensive terms" in social media exchanges.

He described Mr Doughty as "clearly much-loved and respected by his family and his many friends".

'Clear betrayal of trust'

The judge said the messages written by Hancel - featuring laughing and smiling face emojis - appeared to show he was "amused" at what had happened.

Hancel, who had been a firefighter for three years, had initially claimed that other firefighters may have sent the messages as a prank but he later accepted he had disseminated the images.

Defence counsel Jane Osborne KC urged the judge to consider passing a suspended jail term in relation to the "isolated" incident.

Commenting on the case, senior crown prosecutor Georgina Davies said: "Cameron Hancel's actions were a clear betrayal of the trust placed in him as a public servant.

"As a firefighter, he was employed to protect the public, not to exploit the tragic loss of life."

Ms Davies said that Hancel's behaviour had "caused further anguish to the deceased's family who are still mourning their unimaginable loss".

"I hope that today's proceedings provide some measure of justice and closure during this difficult time," she added.