Jailed Former Durham Police Officer Faces Gross Misconduct Hearing...
Ex-Durham Police Officer Jailed Over Car Park Sex Act Faces Misconduct Hearing...
10th November 2026
A former Durham Constabulary officer is due to face an accelerated misconduct hearing at Peterlee Police Station at 10am on Thursday 12th November 2026, after pleading guilty to outraging public decency and improperly exercising police powers.
Ryan Adams, 28, was jailed for 15 months in October 2026 after the former Durham Constabulary officer was said to have exposed himself and performed a sex act in front of two people sitting in a car in Chester-le-Street in December 2024.
The pair confronted him and filmed him driving away. Durham police said Adams then used the forces computer system to see whether anyone had reported him.
Police traced his vehicle and arrested him that night. He was suspended from duty and resigned in January 2025. Adams pleaded guilty to both offences at Teesside Crown Court back in August 2026. Assistant Chief Constable Richie Allen at the time called his actions “a serious breach of the trust placed in police officers”.
The hearing notice alleges that the former officer carried on after the witnesses asked him to stop and stopped only when they began recording. It also alleges that he admitted what he'd done in a call to a police special constable and discussed his vehicle registration appearing in the incident log on WebStorm. The force alleges he then accessed the forces computer system & without authority.
Durham Constabulary says the conduct amounts to gross misconduct and alleges breaches of professional standards covering discreditable conduct, duties and responsibilities, and authority, respect and courtesy.
He's also expected to be placed on the police barred list, banning him from ever rejoining the police force again.
