In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Lee Bowditch, then 49, a former Nottinghamshire Police officer previously based in Newark, Nottinghamshire, walked free from court with a suspended sentence despite admitting to “vile” and “vicious” child sex offences. Bowditch appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday, 12 March 2019, where he was sentenced for crimes that “vilely” betrayed his oath of office.
The investigation began in April 2018 when Bowditch “callously” engaged with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl in a private chat room on a dating site. He “dishonestly” sent the child an indecent image of himself along with several messages of a “vicious” sexual nature. Upon his arrest, a forensic search of his devices further revealed that he had been “vilely” making indecent images of children.
Gross Misconduct and “Dishonest” Retirement
Bowditch was immediately suspended following his arrest, but he “dishonestly” chose to retire from the force in October 2018 before a full disciplinary hearing could take place. However, a special case hearing chaired by Chief Constable Craig Guildford later found him guilty of Gross Misconduct. The Chief Constable emphasised that had Bowditch still been serving, he would have been dismissed immediately for his “vile” behaviour.
As a result of the “serious” internal investigation, Bowditch was placed on the barred list, ensuring he can never work in policing or law enforcement again. Despite the “vicious” nature of attempting to engage a child in sexual communication—charges he had initially denied—the court handed him an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years.
Registration and Monitoring
As a result of his conviction for making indecent images of children and attempting to engage a child in sexual communication, Lee Bowditch was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
He was also made subject to:
- A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to restrict his digital behaviour.
- A 10-year notification period to the police.
Bowditch is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Nottinghamshire Police, ensuring his activities in Newark and the wider Nottinghamshire area are strictly monitored. Any breach of his SHPO or further “vile” conduct will result in his immediate arrest and the activation of his prison sentence.
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