A Brighton police officer used his rank and size to intimidate young female colleagues he subjected to a slew of sexualised “banter”, a disciplinary hearing was told today.
Two of them said they were put off complaining because colleagues dismissed former Lee Willis’ behaviour as “just what he’s like” – particular when he was promoted to sergeant despite his reputation.
Willis, 51, described as a former PC, was acquitted in May last year of two charges of sexually assaulting the two women, after they didn’t give evidence at his trial.
Today, a panel found every one of the 17 allegations made against him proven, and said it amounted to gross misconduct.
Richard Black, representing Sussex Police, highlighted some of the worst aspects allegations – made not just by the two women he particularly targeted, but by other colleagues too.
Both women said they dreaded being “crewed” with Willis, which meant they would have to share a car with him. He invited both of them to “ride” him while he drove the automatic cars during these shifts, and touched one on the thigh before asking her to go and f*** him.
Both said he had told them they should dress in a bikini or short skirts and spoke about how they would be “punished” when he was promoted to sergeant.
He told them he fantasised about a threesome with them both, calling them “naughty babes” and “little fitties”.
And he also told them and their male colleagues that he would be able to teach them sexual positions.
The allegations were first brought to the attention of Sussex Police’s professional standards department in March 2023 and the two women were interviewed.
Mr Black said the first, described as Officer A, described being assaulted in the car when he touched her thigh for 15 seconds.
He said: “She described her stomach as dropping. It was just someone touching her leg, but she believed he wanted to have sex with her. He was a lot bigger than her.
“She tried to remove herself from the car by saying something like let’s just go to Lidl, and he replied ‘Shall we just go and fuck?’
“When she was later told he was going to be her sergeant, she was shocked. She feared being given horrific workloads.
“She discussed it with Officer B and they agreed to look out for each other”
She said she Willis had told her if she didn’t want to be given excessive paperwork, she would have to walk around the office in a bikini.
When she first joined the force, she had been warned he was “pervy” but everyone dismissed his behaviour, saying “it was just who he was.”
Mr Black said: “He had been in the job for 22 years, she thought it was pointless doing anything about it because she had been in the job for five minutes by comparison.
“She thought he had friends high up in the organisation and despite everyone knowing what he was like, he was still being promoted. She found that suspicious.”
Officer B said Willis had also touched her thigh, stroking it before saying “That’s probably inappropriate.”
Mr Black said: “She described him taking phone calls to his wife which included sexually explicit comments about what thy would do to each other.
“He would scroll through his social media which was full of half naked women.”
The panel was told Willis had declined to take part in the disciplinary hearing, but during his initial interviews had denied touching the women. He admitted making banter, but denied it was as sexualised as alleged.
After deliberating, the panel said they had gone through every allegation, noting in particular the similarities between multiple officer’s accounts contrasted with Willis’ inconsistent denials.
Chair of the panel Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner said his behaviour was “intentional, deliberate and targeted” and continued even after he knew it was wrong.
He said there were “no mitigating factors”.
No character references were submitted on Willis’ behalf.
After the finding, Mr Black read out statements from Officer A and Officer B. Officer A said she had experienced panic attacks as a result.
She said she was anxious about being involved in the investigation because of how well known Willis was.
Officer B also said she was nervous because of how popular Willis was with colleagues.
The panel, which also included lay members Fiona Whiting and Martin Phillips, advised by qualified legal person Ruth Curtis, said the only reasonable sanction would have been immediate dismissal.
Willis, who lives in Worthing, will be put on the College of Policing barred list.
