Former Avon and Somerset Police officer barred for misconduct

Former Avon and Somerset Police PC Alexander Alderson has been barred from the profession

A former police officer who carried out simulated rape with a vulnerable woman has been barred from the profession.

Alexander Alderson, a former police constable based in Weston-super-Mare, met the woman online and went to her home to engage in sexual activity called consensual non-consent sex.

He also sent the woman sexually explicit images of himself in uniform, taken inside a police station.

A hearing earlier found his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

Mr Alderson resigned in May 2023 and Chief Constable Sarah Crew, who chaired the hearing, ruled that he would have been sacked without notice had he not already left.

The woman, referred to as Miss L, a former domestic violence victim who suffers from mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder, said she had been left feeling "worthless" and unable to trust officers.

In a victim impact statement, Miss L said she experienced mood swings and depression that left her in bed for days at a time because of her mental health issues, which PC Alderson was aware of, but continued to use her for his own sexual desires.

Solicitor Yolanda Pons, representing the constabulary, told the hearing that the ex-constable, who did not attend and was not represented, admitted all the allegations, gross misconduct and breaching the standards of professional behaviour for police.

Ms Crew said misconduct of this kind would undermine public trust in policing.

The Chief Constable stated that the officer's conduct was "intentional", and that he could be in no doubt that the victim was vulnerable, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Alderson will now be placed on a barred list preventing him from serving in policing or law enforcement again.