Ex-UK police inspector jailed for sexually abusing men during strip searches

LONDON, July 24 - A former British police inspector was jailed for 10 years on Friday for sexually abusing 18 young men during unlawful strip searches while they were in custody, prosecutors said.

Gerard Hutchings, 67, used his status as a senior officer to prey on the victims, aged between 17 and 31, during unjustified strip searches which he carried out in private, away from the scrutiny of colleagues.

The offences took place between 1999 and 2007, and Hutchings was convicted of five counts of decent assault, five counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of misconduct in public office.

He had previously pleaded guilty to 17 further counts of misconduct in public office.

"Gerard Hutchings carried out a sustained abuse of power, using his position as a police inspector to target young men who were entitled to expect lawful and professional treatment," senior prosecutor Anthony Johns said in a statement. REUTERS