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

A former detective constable has admitted in court to committing sexual offences against a child by secretly capturing images beneath the youngster's clothing, a practice commonly referred to as "upskirting."

Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, entered guilty pleas at Chester Crown Court to one count of voyeurism and a separate charge of perverting the course of justice. The second charge relates to his actions on 11 June 2026, when he applied a factory reset to his mobile phone in an attempt to destroy evidence. The offences occurred in Colwyn Bay, in the county borough of Conwy, North Wales.

The defendant's professional background has heightened the gravity of the case. At the time of the offences, Harshey-Jones was serving as a detective constable with North Wales Police. He was also the lead investigator in the high-profile case of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths, a toddler whose grandparents were jailed for murder last year. Beyond that investigation, Harshey-Jones had provided evidence in several other prominent murder trials across the north Wales region, placing him at the centre of some of the area's most sensitive criminal proceedings.

In addition to the voyeurism and evidence-tampering charges, the former officer pleaded guilty to a charge of 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 act that prosecutors argued amounted to an abuse of his position and access.

The case was heard before Recorder Mark Ford KC, who granted Harshey-Jones conditional bail following the hearing. The judge ordered that a pre-sentence report be prepared, a standard step that provides the court with detailed background information about a defendant before sentencing. Ryan Donoghue, acting in defence, requested the report and told the court that his client was of previous good character.

Despite that mitigation, Recorder Ford issued a stern warning to the defendant. He told Harshey-Jones that he must sign the sex offenders register, a requirement that places him on a national database and imposes strict reporting obligations on where he lives, travels, and with whom he associates. The judge also emphasised that the decision to adjourn the case for a pre-sentence report should not be interpreted as any indication of the eventual punishment. "The fact that I have adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report should not be taken by you as any indication to you as to what sentence will be passed on these serious counts," the recorder said.

The offence of operating equipment beneath clothing without consent is defined under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, a piece of legislation that consolidated and modernised sexual offences law in England and Wales. Voyeurism, in particular, was introduced as a specific offence under that Act and has since been amended to capture emerging forms of invasive photography, including the practice of upskirting. The law applies regardless of whether the victim is aware of the act at the time.

North Wales Police confirmed that Harshey-Jones had been suspended from duty following his arrest and has since resigned from the force. The force declined to offer further comment, noting that criminal proceedings and misconduct protocols remain active. Such protocols typically run parallel to criminal cases and can result in the forfeiture of pensions or other employment consequences, even after an officer has left the service.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 19 November, when Harshey-Jones will learn the full consequences of his admissions. Until then, he remains on conditional bail, bound by restrictions that may include curfews, residence requirements, or limitations on contact with children. The fact that he has already pleaded guilty means the case will proceed directly to sentencing without a trial, sparing the child victim and other witnesses from the ordeal of giving evidence in open court.

The case has raised troubling questions about the conduct of a senior investigator entrusted with solving serious crimes. As the lead detective in the Ethan Ives-Griffiths murder inquiry, Harshey-Jones was responsible for gathering evidence and pursuing justice for a vulnerable young victim. That same individual has now admitted to exploiting his position to commit a sexual offence against another child and then attempting to cover his tracks by wiping his phone. The contrast between his public role and his private criminality is stark.

Legal experts note that charges of perverting the course of justice are treated with particular severity by the courts because they strike at the heart of the justice system. When combined with a sexual offence and an abuse of police powers, the case is likely to attract a substantial custodial sentence. The judge's decision to request a pre-sentence report does not diminish that likelihood; rather, it ensures that all relevant factors—including any mitigation—are properly weighed before punishment is handed down.

For North Wales Police, the case represents a significant reputational challenge. The force has faced scrutiny in recent years over its handling of various high-profile investigations, and the conviction of one of its own detectives on such charges may intensify calls for greater oversight and accountability. The misconduct protocols referenced by the force are expected to examine not only the offences themselves but also whether Harshey-Jones's access to sensitive databases was properly monitored during the period of his offending.

The victim, a child whose identity is protected by law, has been spared the trauma of testifying, but the long-term impact of the offence remains a serious concern. Child protection advocates emphasise that voyeurism is not a victimless crime; it violates a child's privacy and dignity in a manner that can have lasting psychological effects. The fact that the perpetrator was a police officer—someone tasked with protecting the public—adds an additional layer of betrayal.

As the November sentencing date approaches, the case will continue to draw attention to the use and abuse of police powers, the adequacy of vetting procedures for officers working with sensitive materials, and the effectiveness of the Sexual Offences Act in addressing technology-facilitated crimes. Harshey-Jones now awaits his fate, having admitted to three serious charges that could result in a lengthy prison term and a permanent place on the sex offenders register.