Former North Wales Detective Pleads Guilty to Child Voyeurism and Evidence Tampering

A former detective constable with North Wales Police has admitted to committing sexual offences against a child, including secretly capturing images beneath the victim's clothing, a practice commonly known as "upskirting."

Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, entered guilty pleas at Chester Crown Court to one charge of voyeurism and a separate charge of perverting the course of justice. The court heard that the evidence-tampering charge related to his actions on 11 June 2026 in Colwyn Bay, Conwy county, where he performed a factory reset on his mobile phone in an attempt to destroy potential evidence.

The disgraced former officer also pleaded guilty to a third charge: corrupt or improper exercise of his police powers and privileges. This charge stemmed from him using police computer systems to look up his own incident on the official log, an action that prosecutors argued represented a clear abuse of his position and access.

At the time of his arrest, Harshey-Jones was serving as a detective constable and had been the lead investigator in a highly sensitive case involving the death of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths. The toddler's grandparents were jailed for murder last year in a case that drew significant public attention. In addition to that matter, Harshey-Jones had also given evidence in other high-profile murder trials across north Wales, underscoring the serious breach of trust his offences represent.

Following his arrest, North Wales Police immediately suspended Harshey-Jones from duty. The force has since confirmed that he has resigned from his position. His resignation means he will no longer face internal misconduct proceedings as a serving officer, though the force indicated that criminal proceedings and misconduct protocols remain active.

The case was heard before Recorder Mark Ford KC, who granted Harshey-Jones conditional bail pending sentencing. The judge ordered that a pre-sentence report be prepared, a standard step when a defendant is considered to be of previous good character. Ryan Donoghue, representing Harshey-Jones, had requested the report on that basis.

Despite the request for a pre-sentence report and the defendant's previously clean record, Recorder Ford issued a stern warning from the bench. He told Harshey-Jones that the adjournment for the report should not be interpreted as any indication of the severity of the sentence that will ultimately be handed down for what he described as "serious counts."

The judge also informed the defendant that he must sign the sex offenders register, a requirement that will place him under ongoing monitoring and restrict his activities upon release. Harshey-Jones is scheduled to return to Chester Crown Court for sentencing on 19 November.

The offence of operating equipment beneath clothing without consent is codified under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. This legislation was introduced to address the growing concern over voyeuristic practices enabled by small, easily concealed cameras and mobile devices. The law specifically criminalises the act of observing or recording another person's genitals or buttocks, whether covered by underwear or not, in circumstances where the victim has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Upskirting became a specific criminal offence in England and Wales in 2019 following a lengthy campaign by activists and victims. Prior to that, prosecutors often had to rely on other, less specific laws, which campaigners argued failed to capture the true nature of the violation. The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment.

For a serving police officer to be convicted of such a crime represents a profound betrayal of public trust. Police officers are sworn to uphold the law and protect the public, particularly vulnerable members of society such as children. When an officer exploits their position and access to commit sexual offences, it undermines confidence in the entire justice system.

The charge of perverting the course of justice is equally serious. By performing a factory reset on his phone, Harshey-Jones attempted to permanently delete data that could have been used as evidence against him. Courts view such actions as an attack on the integrity of the judicial process itself, and sentences for this offence often reflect the need to deter others from attempting similar obstruction.

The fact that Harshey-Jones was involved in investigating the murder of a young child adds another layer of gravity to the case. As lead investigator in the Ethan Ives-Griffiths case, he held a position of immense responsibility. The revelation that he simultaneously engaged in predatory behaviour against a child will likely raise questions about vetting procedures and oversight within the force.

North Wales Police has stated that it is unable to provide further comment at this time due to the active criminal proceedings and ongoing misconduct protocols. This is standard practice to avoid prejudicing the sentencing hearing or any related investigations.

The case has been adjourned until 19 November. Until then, Harshey-Jones remains on conditional bail, bound by the terms set by the court. The pre-sentence report will provide the judge with background information on the defendant's character and circumstances, but as Recorder Ford made clear, it offers no guarantee of leniency.

The guilty pleas mean that the victims and witnesses in this case have been spared the trauma of a full trial. However, the sentencing hearing will likely see further details of the offences read into the record, providing a fuller picture of the defendant's conduct. The judge will then determine the appropriate custodial sentence, taking into account the aggravating factors of his position of trust and the nature of the offences against a child.