Sex assault PC faces prison and the sack

Sex assault PC faces prison and the sack

A DYFED Powys police constable broke down in tears this afternoon as a jury convicted him of sexually molesting a female prisoner in the back of a squad car. Pc Richard James Bowen lied about twice mas- turbating in front of her and trying to force his hand down into her black thong. Bowen, 31, faces jail and certain dismissal after being convicted unanimously of misconduct in public office and two offences of indecent exposure. Bowen could face even more trouble after it emerged that he sent a series of mobile ‘phone text messages from the dock of Swansea crown court during his trial. Bowen was supposed to be following the case and at one stage seemed to be distressed and holding his head in his hands. In fact, he was sending and receiving a string of text messages. Which was precisely what he did while roaring down the M4 motorway at 80 mph on April 6, 2006. Then he was swapping sexy messages with his lover Llinos. After receiving a “love and miss you, kisses Baba” message Bowen pulled into the Leigh Delamere services and asked WPC Christina Berry to take over at the wheel of the unmarked Ford Escort. Bowen, in full uniform, climbed into the back and for the next two hours wrote suggestive notes to the 25 year old prisoner sitting next to him. When she failed to respond he twice mas- turbated in front of her. Bowen lied to colleagues about what had hap- pened. But forensic scientist Geoffrey Robinson found up to 70 per cent of his handkerchief to be stained in his semen. There was also semen on the back seat. PCs Bowen and Berry had been sent from west Wales to London to collect a woman suspected of stealing a BMW sports car. Bowen, of Cardigan, west Wales, was convicted after a 10 day trial. A charge of sexual assault was dropped after Judge Christopher Morton ruled it was covered by the misconduct offence. Bowen will be sentenced on June 14 after pro- bation officers have prepared a report into his background. His barrister, Chris Clee, said Bowen “fully understands the consequences of conviction.” “Clearly the offences cross the custody thresh- old, he understands that,” he added. Judge Morton granted Bowen bail meanwhile but warned him that was not an indication of what the sentence would be. “The seriousness is obvious and there will be consequences other than the sentence. These are very serious matters,” he added. Bowen was ordered to live with his parents in Cardigan until he is sentenced. During his trial the jury heard he was from a highly respected family. A testimonial from a local magistrate described him as “a credit to his parents. He is industrious by nature and gives up a lot of his spare time to help charities.” The court heard Bowen was a member of Pop- pet Sands Surf Life Saving Club, Cardigan Golf Club and an ex playing member of Cardigan Rugby Club. Eleanor Jones, the deacon of his church, Cardi- gan Tabernacle Presbyterian, said Bowen was of excellent character and came from a loving family. “His parents are an asset to the community and he is following in their footsteps,” she added.

Hat-Tip to Maneatingcheesesandwich for this story.