A police superintendent who was tasked with investigating domestic abuse has been jailed for possession of extreme pornography.
Stuart Cheek, 43, held illegal images including scenes of pornographic acts likely to cause serious harm and bestiality, which were sent and received via WhatsApp Messenger under the display name ‘Cheeky'.
Cheek - who had also been responsible for community safety - was handed a year-long jail term in relation to the vile imagery and for using his force's computers for personal background checks.
The 43-year-old officer had been transferred to Hertfordshire Constabulary’s domestic abuse investigation and safeguarding unit in 2018 and was later promoted to superintendent for the community safety and crime reduction unit at the force’s headquarters.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Nicholls spoke of how it had been “a difficult case” and how the judge spoke about Cheek's “lack of remorse throughout.”
Cheek was suspended from duty in July 2020, before resigning from the force two years later.
Appearing for sentencing at Aylesbury Crown Court after being arrested and suspended by colleagues in July 2020, he was jailed for 12 months.
A spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "Stuart Cheek had pleaded guilty to the matters at earlier hearings and the case had been adjourned for sentencing.
"The offences took place after Cheek had joined the force.
"The computer misuse offence relates to the inappropriate use of constabulary systems to access information without any legitimate reason about someone he knew personally.
"He was suspended on July 27, 2020 and as well as a criminal investigation, associated misconduct allegations were investigated by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Professional Standards Department (PSD) after the case was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Cheek resigned from the force in June 2022.
"Cheek joined the constabulary in February 2018 and was initially posted to St Albans. He was then posted to the force's Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit.
" He was later promoted to superintendent and placed within the force's Community Safety and Crime Reduction Unit which is based at Police Headquarters in Welwyn Garden City."
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Nicholls said: "This has been a difficult case and the judge spoke today about Cheek's lack of remorse throughout.
"The public quite rightly expects the police to uphold the highest standards and, in this instance, when matters came to light, an investigation was immediately launched.
"The actions of this former officer are totally unacceptable and betray the trust that was placed in him by this force. I hope that our robust and zero tolerance approach reassures the public that swift action will always be taken when allegations emerge."
