Essex Police 'disgusted' by officer who had sex with witness to crime he was investigating

An Essex Police officer who had a sexual relationship with a witness to a crime he was investigating has left his force "disgusted", the Chief Constable said. Former PC Georgie Bean, 31, who was based as an officer in Basildon, was convicted of misconduct after an IOPC investigation.

His conduct was reviewed by an Essex Police misconduct panel on Monday (July 1) who concluded he would have been dismissed had he not already quit the force. The hearing, which was chaired by Chief Constable and lasted less than an hour, heard that Bean, of Fitzstephen Road in Dagenham, had been sexually intimate with a woman who was a witness to a racially aggravated assault case that he was investigating.

The panel was told PC Bean and the woman, referred to as Miss A, exchanged phone numbers and sent each other texts as well as picture messages. "He sent her messages saying she was a good looking girl and was very pretty," DI Tina Hart of Essex Police said.

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In November 2020, he visited the witness' home to take a statement from her. He returned later that day when they engaged in sexual activity. PC Bean reported the incident to his line-manager and was investigated by the IOPC and Essex Police's Professional Standards Department.

The former officer, who was suspended from January 2021 until his resignation in March 2024, was found guilty by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court on February 29. Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington told the panel it is "unacceptable for police officers who are responsible for enforcing the law to break the law themselves".

He added: "Miss A should have been able to rely on him not taking advantage of her. There was a text message exchange and then a visit from him after he had gone off duty.

"This was sexual in nature and as a police officer Miss A should have been able to rely on his professionalism and he abused that trust to engage in sexual activity with Miss A."

Mr Harrington concluded: "His behaviour annoys each and everyone one of the officers in the police force. We are disgusted by his behaviour."

Bean was sentenced to a community order to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work and £1200 in costs. He will be placed on the College of Policing Barred List.