Key facts
- Former police inspector Gerard Hutchings has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
- He was found guilty of sexually assaulting 18 young men in custody between 1999 and 2007.
- The victims were subjected to unwarranted strip searches and sexual assaults.
- Hutchings had previously served 16 months in prison for similar misconduct.
- The judge noted Hutchings abused his power and position of authority.
A former police inspector, Gerard Hutchings, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting 18 young men in custody between 1999 and 2007. Hutchings, 67, abused the victims, aged between 17 and 31, at police stations in Hampshire. He subjected them to unwarranted strip searches and sexual assaults.
A jury found Hutchings guilty of five charges of indecent assault, five of causing a person to engage in a sexual activity without consent, and one of misconduct in a public office. He had previously admitted to 17 counts of misconduct in public office.
During the trial, victims described how Hutchings acted in a calculating and predatory manner, taking pleasure in humiliating them. Judge William Hart stated that Hutchings abused his power and position of authority, noting that the offenses were made more grave by his seniority.
Hutchings was previously jailed for 16 months in 2008 for similar offenses and was sacked by Hampshire Police in 2007. A new investigation was launched in 2020 after a further allegation, leading to the identification of 18 victims from 373 individuals named in Hutchings' police notebook.
Prosecutors praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward, stating their evidence was vital in bringing Hutchings to justice. The judge highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and the significant impact on the victims.