Essex Police officer found guilty of inappropriate sexual relationship with a witness
The offence relates to 2020, where PC Georgie Bean was in charge of an investigation
Last updated 1st Mar 2024
An investigation Independent Office for Police Conduct into an Essex Police officer has led to a jury delivering a guilty charge.
31-year-old Police Constable Georgie Bean, who is based in Basildon, was yesterday found guilty of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a witness, at Chelmsford Crown Court, after denying the offence.
The IOPC investigation began after the incident was reported to PC Bean's superiors.
In October 2021, PC Bean was in charge of investigation a case of a racially aggravated assault. During the investigation, he came into contact with a woman as she was a key witness to the case.
PC Bean later visited her home to take a witness statement, in November 2020, before returning to the home later that same day where they 'engaged in sexual activity'.
It was reported to superiors when PC Bean distanced himself from the witness, before admitting the incident himself.
The case was then passed to the IOPC, in December 2020, resulting in yesterday's guilty charge after a charge from the Crown Prosecution Service.
PC Bean received a community order to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £1200 in costs.
“He clearly failed to maintain appropriate and professional boundaries between himself and the woman and his actions amounted to a criminal offence"
IOPC regional director Charmaine Arbouin said: “PC Bean was found to have formed an inappropriate relationship with a woman, who was the sole independent witness to an assault that he was in charge of investigating.
“He clearly failed to maintain appropriate and professional boundaries between himself and the woman and his actions amounted to a criminal offence. He has now been held accountable for his behaviour.”
PC Bean was placed under criminal caution during the 12 month investigation, with evidence taken from his phone, and the woman interviewed, along with two of her friends.
The findings also reported the PC Bean should face gross misconduct hearing, with a disciplinary hearing to be arranged by Essex Police.
He was found to have breached professional behaviour standards relating to several areas including confidentiality, honesty and integrity.