A Kent Police officer who admitted he “couldn’t stop looking” at a domestic abuse victim’s breasts and showed off his testicles to other members of staff, claiming “they’re quite big”, has been sacked.
PC Ben Bayley-Cook, based in the Dartford area, was sacked without notice following a misconduct panel’s findings that he sexually harassed a fellow officer and made numerous degrading remarks about women, including members of the public.
This encompassed crude comments about a woman involved in a collision and stating his preference for “skimpily dressed drunk females”. The tribunal heard his conduct commenced just months after he joined Kent Police in January 2022 and lasted for over a year.
A misconduct report released by the force this week outlines 12 distinct allegations, including persistent sexual remarks, inappropriate observations about colleagues’ bodies, and displaying photographs of his penis, testicles and waxed anus to officers.
All but one of the allegations were upheld. One female constable, referred to as PC A, was deemed by the panel to be a “victim of sexual harassment” and the incident resulted in her leaving Kent Police to pursue her policing career overseas.
The panel determined PC Bayley-Cook’s conduct established an “intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment” for female colleagues. His behaviour initially raised alarm while attending classes at Kent Police College.
During one session, he branded PC A’s mother a “MILF” after viewing her photograph. The report states he also made repeated remarks about his penis, and in a particularly unsettling conversation, he told another officer: “I had a w**k about you before work today, I am so horny all the time that I have three w**ks before work now.”
Weeks later, at a social gathering in May 2022, he was observed encouraging colleagues to view images of his penis on his mobile phone. The misconduct panel heard that his behaviour escalated after he transitioned into local policing the following month. Referring to a female acting sergeant, he stated: “Don’t f*** your sergeant rule is stupid because [she] is fit.” He then added: “I would destroy her.”
Among the most serious allegations were comments made after attending an incident involving a victim of domestic abuse. Speaking to PC A afterwards, PC Bayley-Cook said: “I couldn’t stop looking at her t**s.”
He also made crude remarks about another female officer, including saying: “I would love that a**e sat on my face.” On another occasion, he discussed attempting to wax his anus before showing colleagues photos of it. He later admitted this but claimed it was for “medical reasons”.
The panel also upheld allegations he requested before-and-after pictures following a colleague’s breast enlargement surgery, made repeated comments about his genitals, and offered to show photos of them. Other officers reported him commenting on the breasts of female colleagues, frequently bragging about women he had slept with, and displaying intimate images.
Other allegations the disgraced officer was hit with include accusations he showed a PC pictures of his testicles, remarking: “See, they are quite big, aren’t they?”
In one instance involving a woman injured in a road accident, he commented to a colleague: “She was alright, wasn’t she?” before adding: “I would.” The officer also expressed a preference for “skimpily dressed drunk females” and said he enjoyed summer because “all the girls are dressed like sl*ts”.
PC Bayley-Cook also displayed a photo of his scrotum to another constable on his mobile phone while other male and female officers were present. During a night out with colleagues in 2023, referring to a new team member, he said: “Oh yeah, that new girl, I’d f*** her.”
PC Bayley-Cook denied all allegations, claiming PC A had lied and suggesting fellow officers had conspired against him. However the panel, led by Assistant Chief Officer Andy Pritchard, dismissed his version of events entirely.
They found PC A to be “an honest, truthful and credible witness who gave reliable evidence”, with other officers also providing truthful testimony. The only allegation not substantiated was a claim he mocked PC A’s dyslexia. The panel specifically noted PC Bayley-Cook had “not demonstrated any insight or remorse into his behaviour”.
In its conclusions, the panel stated that his conduct violated colleagues’ dignity. The report indicated his actions caused “direct harm” to PC A, who had contemplated leaving the police force due to his behaviour before eventually moving overseas.
Despite moving abroad, she stayed up late to provide evidence via video link during the hearing, the panel noted, demonstrating how seriously she regarded his behaviour.
The report states: “The panel was satisfied the conduct of PC Bayley-Cook had the effect of violating the dignity of, and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for female colleagues.”
The panel also concluded he displayed a “failure to act with self-control and respect towards female colleagues” – and his behaviour towards PC A constituted sexual harassment as defined in section 26 of the Equality Act.
The report also highlights the potential damage to the police service’s reputation and how PC Bayley-Cook’s behaviour “could undermine public confidence in policing”.
It added: “The panel noted the scale and depth of national concern around police officers acting inappropriately, particularly with respect to sexual matters with, and violence towards, women and girls.”
PC Bayley-Cook, who previously served as a Met Police officer between 2017 and 2019, was found guilty of gross misconduct following the hearing from 23 to 26 March. The ex-officer was then dismissed without notice.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jon Armory, head of professional standards at Kent Police, has commented in response the officers foul behaviour. The Chief Superintendent stated: “The overwhelming majority of Kent Police officers demonstrate exceptional professionalism in their interactions with the public and their colleagues. When a serving officer falls below the standards expected of them, it is therefore incredibly disappointing.