Andrew Edwards, a former police constable from Chippenham, Wiltshire, was sentenced after admitting to stalking his ex-girlfriend by misusing police systems. Edwards conducted 27 unauthorized searches on his former partner, her male friends, and her new partner both during and outside of duty hours, without any legitimate policing purpose.
In addition to the illegal database searches, Edwards visited his ex’s home address 31 times, again both on and off duty. He also enlisted colleagues to check her social media accounts after being blocked from viewing them himself.
Edwards appeared at Bristol Crown Court on September 12, where he pleaded guilty to stalking and misconduct in public office. After his actions came to light, Wiltshire Police immediately suspended him, and he subsequently resigned from the force on May 6 amid the ongoing investigation.
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Assistant Chief Constable Ian Saunders condemned Edwards’ behavior as a serious breach of trust, stressing that officers are held to the highest standards of integrity. “Edwards’ conduct was completely unacceptable and falls far short of the professionalism we demand,” Saunders said. He underscored the seriousness of stalking crimes and affirmed that no individual is exempt from the law, regardless of their position.
Saunders also praised the colleagues who identified and reported Edwards’ misconduct, acknowledging the courage it takes to speak out against a fellow officer.
Edwards received a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities, undergo three months of electronic monitoring, and perform 100 hours of unpaid work.