A custody sergeant who allegedly had sex with a female suspect has been cleared of misconduct charges.
Sergeant Richard Evans, 46, was also found not guilty of sexually assaulting two other women while on duty at Ystrad Mynach police station.
Evans, of New Inn, walked free from Cardiff Crown Court on August 26, after a jury took just three hours to clear him of any wrong doing.
Evans, who has been suspended since the allegations emerged in January last year, has been a police officer since 1986 and a custody sergeant with Gwent Police since November 2003.
He was accused of kissing one woman in a police van before later having sex with her in a sluice room at the police station.
A second woman alleged he had kissed and fondled her after she was arrested and taken to the cells.
And a third claimed that while she was getting dressed he pulled a blanket off her.
The custody sergeant denied all charges during a week long trial.
Evans, who had joined the relief work in Asia in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, said he used humour with detainees.
He told the court his attitude to suspects was “quite flexible” and that he used jokes to try and make them feel relaxed.
He said: “My language might be seen as inappropriate and silly but it was to show police officers were not robotic and are approachable.”
Evans was found not guilty of two charges of misconduct, and three charges of sexual assault between 2003 and 2013.
Deputy Chief Constable Craig Guildford said Gwent Police accepted the verdict of the court and that its own misconduct investigation into the allegations would now continue.
Mr Evans remains suspended by Gwent Police.
And I suppose for legal reasons these women can’t be named, but they can make false allegations about Mr Evans and waste peoples time and money dragging this through the courts, their names and pictures should be shown.
I agree with Paul’s sentiments. If allegations are made by people claiming legal anonymity then the same protection should be extended to the accused. Their identity should only be revealed if they are convicted of the crime.