Former Pc jailed for on-duty sex

Kenny Lewis resigned as a police officer in December 2008

A former Bristol policeman has been jailed for engaging in sexual activity with "vulnerable" women while on duty.

Kenny Lewis, 26, of Bibury Close in Nailsea, pleaded guilty to six charges of sexual misconduct and two of using police computers to track women down.

But he was acquitted on three counts of rape and one further misconduct charge.

Jailing him for four years, the Exeter judge said Lewis had "systematically targeted" women and what he had done to one victim was "little short of rape".

Exeter Crown Court heard how Lewis's method was to introduce himself to women who had been involved in a crime as a witness, victim or perpetrator.

You quite shamelessly used your position as a police officer to gain trust and respect Judge Graham Cottle

He would then falsely claim to be carrying out further inquiries before inducing them to perform a range of sex acts.

In a police video interview played to the court, a 33-year-old pole dancer said Lewis had twice used handcuffs to restrain her.

She said Lewis told her: "There is no point opening your mouth. No one is going to listen to a stripper."

In total, Lewis engaged in sexual activity with four women during his employment.

He also used the police national computer (PNC) to access confidential files to track down vulnerable woman.

Judge Graham Cottle also said that despite accepting the jury's not guilty verdicts on the three rape charges, he rejected Lewis's version of what had happened.

"I have no doubt that you systematically targeted vulnerable females and did so for one purpose in mind and that was sexual gratification for yourself," he said.

Victims praised

"In no sense was genuine affection a feature in this case, it was all about the selfish pursuit of sexual gratification.

"You quite shamelessly used your position as a police officer to gain trust and respect."

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Chief Supt Louisa Rolfe, of Avon and Somerset Police, said Lewis had "let down former colleagues".

She said he had abused his position of trust to identify and target vulnerable women and praised their courage and determination to come forward and help with the investigation.

Lewis resigned as a police constable with the Avon and Somerset force in December last year.