Detective kept ing women who blocked him

A detective who repeatedly ed women when they had asked him to stop would have been sacked had he not already retired, a hearing concluded.

Det Insp Andy Southam ed Bedfordshire Police in 1997 and retired shortly before his misconduct this month.

He faced allegations related to nine women he had met on a Christian dating website.

On the first day of the hearing he itted to the accusations from seven women, which took place between 2015 and June 2022. As a result, the did not pursue the accusations he denied any further.

The hearing found that Mr Southam had told the women he was a "high ranking" police officer to gain their trust.

According to the women the officer had made inappropriate comments about their bodies and sex acts.

When the women asked him to stop ing them he would continue to send them messages.

One woman said she started a relationship with Mr Southam in June 2015, but she ended it and blocked him in January 2016 after he demonstrated controlling behaviour.

He continued to her intermittently over the next six years.

Another woman told Mr Southam to stop ing her in July 2021, but when he continued she reported him to the police in September 2021 and he was arrested on suspicion of harassment.

Deputy Chief Constable Dan Vajzovic said: "This was a pattern of behaviours which was unwelcome, inappropriate and, at times, intimidating.

"His continued unwanted pursuance of females who had asked to be left alone will no doubt further erode the trust women and girls have in policing.

"Despite Mr Southam's cynical retirement immediately before the hearing it is right that we pursued this matter to its conclusion as this will ensure he is now barred from reing any police force."

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