Police officer searched 'extreme porn' on duty

The hearing heard that the public "would be shocked" at the officer watching pornography while on duty

A former police officer has been banned from serving in the future after searching for pornography while on duty and messaging two females, a force said.

Sebastian Sargent resigned from Suffolk Police ahead of a misconduct hearing.

He searched for sexual videos of unconscious women being raped and pornography involving animals, the chairman of the hearing said.

Mr Sargent admitted gross misconduct and was barred from becoming a police officer for life.

Mr Sargent, who was 23-years old at the time, and based in Lowestoft, joined Suffolk Police in February 2023.

He was deployed to a nightclub in November 2023, where he met a woman, referred to as Miss A, who was believed to be intoxicated.

The hearing heard the officer took down her details and later messaged her on Instagram telling her she "was hot" and looked "amazing in your photos x". He also asked if she was single.

The panel was told Miss A had responded a few times initially and then stopped, but he continued to message her.

In January 2024, Mr Sargent attended a premises to check if they had CCTV footage.

There he was said to have met a 17-year-old, referred to as Miss B.

The panel heard he searched for her on Facebook and messaged her asking her if she was single. She replied "yes" but that she was 17. The hearing heard he responded asking her if their age difference would be an issue.

Mr Sargent accepted a conditional caution about messaging the two females and his personal phone was searched.

Officers discovered searches for pornography including attacks on unconscious women, as well as searches for sexual content involving a horse.

Assistant Chief Constable Nick Davison, from Norfolk Police, chaired the meeting and said Mr Sargent had asked for the hearing to be held in private, which was rejected.

Mr Davison said he found Mr Sargent guilty of "gross misconduct" and that the females involved were to be considered as "vulnerable" due to being either intoxicated or legally a child.

Mr Davison said 2,000 lines of internet history were searched on Mr Sargent's phone and illegal pornographic searches were found involving "bestiality" and legal searches involving "women being dominated or abused".

The hearing heard that Mr Sargent would have been dismissed had he not resigned.

Mr Davison said Mr Sargent had "demonstrated predatory behaviour" and had abused his "position for sexual purposes".

At the hearing, it was read out that the former officer was "extremally remorseful" and he "takes personal responsibility" for what happened.

Mr Sargent was barred from any role within the police force for life, he can appeal the decision.