Cheshire PC exchanged 'abhorrent' messages with sergeant - hearing

The force's chief constable described the messages as degrading and disrespectful

A police constable exchanged "abhorrent" WhatsApp messages with a sergeant from another force over a four-year period, a hearing was told.

Christopher Unwin, of Cheshire Constabulary, sent and received numerous "grossly offensive" messages with a sergeant from Merseyside Police.

Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts chaired an accelerated misconduct hearing for Mr Unwin, who resigned in September.

Mr Unwin chose not to attend in person.

He resigned during the course of the investigation into the messages that were exchanged between December 2018 and November 2022.

In the hearing at Cheshire Constabulary's headquarters, Mr Roberts said: "There can be no reasonable explanation for his actions exchanging - over almost four years - messages that included many racist, transphobic, homophobic and misogynistic themes.

"There are messages which also discussed sexualised matters in a highly degrading and disrespectful manner, and there are also numerous messages that I consider to be ableist and highly prejudiced against those with disabilities.

"Equally concerning is that many messages trivialised matters such as forced marriage and domestic abuse.

Mr Roberts said Mr Unwin was "fully aware" that such messages were extremely offensive "as indicated by comments such as 'horrendous but hilarious'".

'Particularly abhorrent'

"Not only did he fail to challenge messages he received, he actively participated in sending similar messages," Mr Roberts added.

"It goes without saying that exchanging such views is extremely harmful to the reputation of the constabulary and wholly undermines confidence in policing, especially within minority communities."

Referring to the statement Mr Unwin sent instead of appearing at the hearing, Mr Roberts said he took a "dim view" that Mr Unwin expressed "no contrition whatsoever for his actions, rather mitigating around his personal circumstances".

Ruling that Mr Unwin had committed gross misconduct, he said the former officer would have been dismissed without notice if he had not resigned.

Mr Unwin will be added to the College of Policing barred list.

Mr Roberts concluded: "I find this type of behaviour and the views it portrays to be particularly abhorrent in the extreme."

The Merseyside Police sergeant also resigned ahead of his misconduct hearing and he too would have been dismissed without notice had he not done so, said Merseyside Police.