Reading Crown Court: Sexual predator officer Oliver Perry-Smith from Newbury who shamed Thames Valley Police is jailed
A NEWBURY police officer exposed as a "disgusting" sexual predator is finally behind bars today (Friday).
The married father-of-one, who misused the Police National Computer (PNC) to stalk some of his victims, boasted to one of them that he was into "sex parties, orgies and swinging".
Some of the victims were in the gallery at Reading Crown Court to see justice meted out to Oliver Perry-Smith, who can expect a hard time in prison, according to his barrister.
The women – six of whom were named as victims, although there could have been as many as 12, the court heard – gave damning statements describing how Perry-Smith had destroyed their confidence in the police.
One invoked the spectre of Wayne Couzens – the Metropolitan Police officer currently service a life sentence for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard last March.
The court heard Perry-Smith used his charm – but also his bulk – to intimidate and coerce some of his victims into performing sex acts.
The 38-year-old, who lived at Denman Drive in Newbury, joined Thames Valley Police in 2009 and was an acting sergeant at the time of his arrest.
All his victims were vulnerable in one sense or another, said Isabel Delamere, prosecuting.
Some of them were potential crime witnesses or even defendants when Perry-Smith targeted them, she added.
One victim described how she contacted police because her autistic son was a crime victim.
Perry-Smith arrived in uniform and, after taking statements, started making sexual remarks before running his finger down her leg.
He then told her: "I don't know what it is about you but I want to **** you right now."
Later that night Perry-Smith came back and persuaded her to perform a sex act on him, leaving her feeling degraded and ashamed, the court heard.
Another woman who had contacted police over a relatively trivial matter described how Perry-Smith turned up, uninvited at her home, having illegally used the PNC to trace her.
The pretext was a drugs investigation but his flirtatious manner made her uneasy.
The young mother said: "I noticed he was missing badges on his uniform and his radio was off.
"I wanted to get him out of the flat; I was feeling really uneasy – was he really a copper?
"It crossed my mind he could rape or kill me and no one would know he was here."
The woman said later in a statement: "I was terrified... I believe he had planned and prepared this.
"You don't expect police officers to behave that way... when you think about the murder of Sarah Everard, by a serving police officer... "
The net began closing on Perry-Smith after a friend of one victim told a senior officer that he had sent the woman photos of his private parts.
Following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) he admitted three charges of misconduct in public office and two charges of unauthorised access to computer material between September 2014 and November 2019.
In victim impact statements, the women said how their trust in the police had been shattered and that they were now afraid of uniformed officers.
One, who bravely took the witness stand to deliver her statement in person as Perry-Smith looked on, expressionless, branded him disgusting and said: "I was probably at the lowest point in my life.
"He was blocking my doorway with his arms outstretched."
After their sexual encounter the woman said: "I was left feeling used, embarrassed and ashamed... I thought, 'who would believe me?'
"Could I really trust another officer again?"
Another said: "He used me like a toy – an object, to satisfy himself.
"I held on to the dirty little secret and locked it away... before this I had police on a pedestal of respect [but] he has made a joke of his job and a mockery of the police."
Others said they felt they had been "groomed" and all said their lives had been irrevocably changed for the worse.
Ailsa Williamson, for Perry-Smith, said her client had sought treatment for "sex addiction" and was genuinely remorseful.
She said his wife, Hannah, was standing by him and the court heard she had provided a character reference on Perry-Smith's behalf, along with seven former colleagues.
Ms Williamson added: "The time he serves will be particularly difficult because he has been a serving police officer.
"He is genuinely upset to have caused distress to these ladies – it was never his intention that they should feel used or taken advantage of."
The judge, Mr Justice Simon Bryan, said Perry-Smith was guilty of a "catalogue" of crimes over a sustained period.
He added that the former officer had brought shame on the police and dishonoured his colleagues.
Citing the case of murderer Wayne Couzens, he said Perry-Smith, too, had "abused your position for your own sexual gratification," causing lasting harm to his victims and to the police force in general.
The victim statements, added the judge, "are moving, and speak volumes about the harm you caused and the impact on their lives".
Perry-Smith, wearing a black shirt, black tie and trousers, showed no emotion as Mr Justice Ryan jailed him for three-and-a-half years, telling the dock officer: "Take him down."
Afterwards, Thames Valley Police released a statement which said: "Thames Valley Police made a referral to the IOPC in 2019 after being made aware of Perry-Smith’s offences.
"He resigned from Thames Valley Police on February 8 this year."
Deputy chief constable Jason Hogg said: "Former PC Oliver Perry-Smith abused his position of power as a police officer and has rightly been punished for his disgraceful, criminal actions.
"We took robust action by referring his case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as well as carrying out our own misconduct procedures.
"In these misconduct procedures, chief constable John Campbell determined that if PC Perry-Smith had not resigned, he would have been dismissed from our force.
"The public has a right to expect that police officers always act with the utmost integrity and professionalism, and that they can be trusted to use personal information on police systems appropriately and respectfully.
"Officers who fail to do this are committing a criminal offence, not to mention falling far below the standards their colleagues and the public expect of them.
"I am pleased that Perry-Smith has faced justice for his actions and is no longer part of Thames Valley Police.”
Also after the sentencing, senior crown prosecutor Charles White, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Oliver Perry-Smith took advantage of his privileged position and access to police resources to pursue several women over a few years.
"He knowingly breached police policy when he made personal visits while on duty.
"He seemed to think that by lying to his superiors and using his duties as an excuse, he’d be immune to the consequences of his actions.
"Today’s sentence proves no one is above the law, including those meant to uphold it.
"Perry-Smith abused his power, broke public trust, and made many women feel uncomfortable or unsafe in his inappropriate pursuit of them.
"I hope today’s sentence brings those women a sense of justice."
