Former Detective Sues North Wales Police Over Alleged Cover-Up in Adultery and Subsequent Marriage
A former detective with North Wales Police is pursuing legal action against the force, alleging a cover-up related to an affair involving his former fiancée and a colleague, culminating in the marriage of the investigating officer to the same woman. Andrew Fearon is seeking £344,000 in damages, citing personal injury and loss of earnings resulting from the force’s alleged failure to properly investigate his complaints.
The case, currently slated for a hearing in Liverpool in July, centers on allegations that Detective Constable Rebecca Hutt engaged in an affair with Detective Constable Shaun Parry while both were serving officers. According to court documents, Fearon confronted Hutt in 2018, after she allegedly confessed to the relationship. He subsequently filed a formal complaint, alleging the affair took place on police premises at the St Asaph police station in Denbighshire.
The legal filings further claim that Parry is a “known sexual predator” and that members of the North Wales Police conspired to protect him from disciplinary action. Instead of facing a misconduct panel, Parry was transferred to a station in Wrexham. He was later dismissed by the force in 2019 over separate allegations of inappropriate behaviour with another female colleague, according to reports.
The situation took a further turn when Detective Superintendent Steve Williams was assigned to investigate Fearon’s initial complaint. The lawsuit alleges that Williams was simultaneously engaged in a sexual relationship with Hutt, creating a conflict of interest that compromised the impartiality of the investigation. Williams ultimately recommended no further action, allowing Hutt to remain in her position.
Williams and Hutt subsequently married in 2022. Fearon alleges that the force’s handling of the situation caused him severe psychiatric injury and financial ruin. He took four months of stress leave following the discovery of the affair and the perceived lack of support from his employer, eventually resigning from the force.
Fearon’s solicitor, David Miers, stated that the case “centres on North Wales Police’s failure to undertake an impartial investigation in light of the alleged offences and the relationships Ms Hutt was having with other officers.” Miers added that this failure “left Mr Fearon feeling isolated and unsupported, which ultimately resulted in a very serious psychiatric injury.”
The allegations raise questions about potential misconduct within North Wales Police and the handling of internal investigations. The case highlights the complexities of relationships within a professional environment, particularly in law enforcement, and the potential for conflicts of interest to undermine the integrity of investigations.
Both Steve Williams and Rebecca Hutt have declined to comment on the specifics of the case. Williams, who has since retired from the force, has strongly denied the allegations of a relationship with Hutt during the investigation, characterizing Fearon’s claims as “malicious, without substance, and a continuum of harassment.” Shaun Parry also declined to comment, stating he had “moved on with my life.”
The lawsuit comes amid increasing scrutiny of police conduct and internal accountability mechanisms. The case is likely to draw attention to the challenges faced by officers who report misconduct within their own ranks and the potential for systemic issues to protect individuals from facing consequences for their actions.
The outcome of the legal proceedings could have significant implications for North Wales Police, potentially leading to changes in internal policies and procedures regarding investigations into misconduct and conflicts of interest. It also raises broader questions about the ethical responsibilities of law enforcement officers and the importance of maintaining public trust.
The case is scheduled to be heard in Liverpool, , where a judge will consider the evidence presented by both sides and determine whether North Wales Police failed in its duty of care to Andrew Fearon.
