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 referred to as "upskirting." Lee Harshey-Jones, 45, entered guilty pleas at Chester Crown Court to charges of voyeurism and perverting the course of justice, bringing an abrupt end to a career that had once placed him at the centre of some of the region's most sensitive criminal investigations.

The voyeurism charge relates to the act of operating equipment beneath a person's clothing without their consent, which constitutes an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. In this instance, the victim was a child, a detail that has intensified the gravity of the case and raised serious questions about the conduct of an individual entrusted with upholding the law.

In addition to the voyeurism count, Harshey-Jones pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. The court heard that on 11 June 2026, in Colwyn Bay, Conwy county, he applied a factory reset to his mobile phone in an attempt to conceal evidence. This deliberate act of destroying potential digital evidence formed the basis of the second charge and suggests an awareness of wrongdoing and an effort to evade accountability.

The defendant also admitted to a third charge: corrupt or improper exercise of his police powers and privileges. According to the prosecution, Harshey-Jones used police computer systems to look up his own incident on the official log. This unauthorised access represented a clear abuse of the privileged access granted to sworn officers and compounded the breach of trust inherent in his position.

Harshey-Jones had served as a detective constable and had been the lead investigator in the highly publicised case of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths, whose grandparents were jailed for murder last year. His involvement in that case, along with his participation in other high-profile murder trials across north Wales, underscores the significant responsibilities he once held and the trust that was placed in him by both the force and the public.

Following his arrest, Harshey-Jones was suspended by North Wales Police. He has since resigned from the force, a development confirmed by the police in a statement. His departure does not, however, erase the seriousness of the offences or the damage done to public confidence in law enforcement.

During the hearing at Chester Crown Court, Recorder Mark Ford KC granted Harshey-Jones conditional bail. The judge ordered that the defendant must sign the sex offenders register, a requirement that will place him under ongoing monitoring and restrict certain activities. Sentencing was adjourned until 19 November to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Ryan Donoghue, defending, requested the pre-sentence report, noting that his client was of previous good character. That assertion may carry some weight in mitigation, but the recorder was careful to caution the defendant against reading too much into the adjournment. "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," Recorder Ford said, making clear that the full range of sentencing options remains open.

The case has sent shockwaves through the north Wales policing community, where Harshey-Jones was known as a senior investigator. His guilty pleas represent a profound fall from grace for an officer who once worked to secure justice for victims of serious crime, including the family of Ethan Ives-Griffiths. That he has now admitted to exploiting a child for his own sexual gratification, and then attempting to cover his tracks, has left many questioning how such behaviour could go undetected.

North Wales Police said it was unable to provide further comment at this time, citing the fact that criminal proceedings and misconduct protocols remain active. The force confirmed only that the former officer had resigned. This limited response reflects the delicate legal position, but it also leaves unanswered questions about the internal oversight that might have caught such conduct earlier.

The offence of upskirting has only relatively recently been recognised as a specific criminal act in England and Wales, with campaigners long arguing that the practice constitutes a serious violation of privacy and personal dignity. When the perpetrator is a police officer and the victim is a child, the violation is compounded by a betrayal of public trust. The case is likely to fuel ongoing debates about police accountability, the effectiveness of internal vetting, and the protections in place for vulnerable individuals.

Legal experts note that perverting the course of justice is a common law offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness with which the justice system views any attempt to obstruct or defeat the ends of justice. Voyeurism, while carrying a lesser maximum sentence, is still treated as a serious sexual offence, particularly when the victim is a minor. The combination of charges, along with the abuse of police powers, suggests that Harshey-Jones could face a substantial custodial sentence when he returns to court in November.

The adjournment for a pre-sentence report will allow the court to consider the defendant's background, his previous good character, and any mitigating factors. However, the judge's firm warning indicates that the gravity of the offences will weigh heavily in the final decision. The requirement to sign the sex offenders register is a mandatory step for such convictions and will subject Harshey-Jones to a range of restrictions and monitoring requirements for a defined period.

For the victim and their family, the guilty pleas may bring some measure of closure, though the harm caused by such intrusions is often lasting. The fact that the offender was a police officer adds a layer of trauma and institutional betrayal. The case will also be scrutinised by police watchdogs and could lead to a broader review of how the force handles officers accused of sexual misconduct.

As the sentencing date approaches, attention will remain fixed on Chester Crown Court, where the former detective will learn his fate. The outcome will be watched closely not only by those directly affected but also by campaigners, legal professionals, and members of the public who look to the courts to deliver justice when those sworn to protect the public instead prey upon it.