By James Simons And Samantha Jones-
A former detective constable of Essex Police, Lewis Marshall, who cut off his partner’s underpants out of jealousy, was a disgrace to the force.
These were the words of a sergeant, who on the condition of anonymity told this publication that the offending detective disgraced the force.
He said: ”The revelation that such a highly placed police constable could stoop so low in their conduct and bring the reputation of the force to disrepute, will go own as one of the most shocking of misconduct from cops this year.
‘The police are law enforcement agents, and expected to uphold the highest standards of law abiding conduct.
‘Having an individual in the force who can brazenly break the law, especially in the area of domestic violence, renders this a misconduct so grim that it is a disgrace to the force, but does not represent the ethics and principles of Essex Police’.
Essex police has many hardworking and professional officers committed to their duty, but corrupt apples like that of Marshall begs the question how many more misfits could be hiding in the ranks.
The news of this most shameful conduct by a police constable was made during a misconduct panel where Marshall stands accused of engaging in “emotionally and psychologically” abusive behavior.
Today, the panel said Marshall would have been dismissed had he not resigned. Some observers believe Marshall’s offence deserved more punitive measures, potentially crossing into the criminal dimension of the complaints.
The panel heard that Marshall allegedly entered his ex-partner’s residence without permission, damaged her property, and engaged in activities that were both intrusive and harassing.
The charges also include sending offensive text messages and unlawfully accessing an Alexa device account associated with the home.
George Thomas, representing Essex Police, characterized Marshall’s alleged actions as “abusive, oppressive, harassing, bullying, victimizing, and offensive.”
The complainant, identified as Miss A, had her statements read out during the hearing, revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior that extended beyond the alleged property damage.
One of the unsettling claims is that Marshall was reportedly “jealous” of Miss A’s one-year-old nephew, even going so far as to express reluctance to attend family gatherings if the child was present.
Thomas commented on the bizarre nature of this jealousy, stating, “It’s quite worrying that a grown man would be jealous of a child.”
However, details connected to the story of the child sparking the jealousy was not told, in what could be a missing gap to the bitter thoughts that led to such callous act.
The complainant said she received distressing messages from Marshall shortly before her birthday, described as “horrible and nasty.”
Additionally, Marshall’s behavior included leaving the loft hatch open, implying that he may have been present, which the panel characterized as psychological manipulation.
The misconduct panel heard that Marshall allegedly accessed Miss A’s Alexa device account after he moved out, monitoring her music preferences and making unfounded assumptions about her personal life.
The intrusion extended to alleged eavesdropping on her voicemail messages and driving near her residence. The allegations portray an obsessive man whose conduct lacked restraint and foresight.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Marshall opted not to attend the hearing but submitted denials of the accusations. He said “The situation has been handled so appallingly that I do not wish to give it any time or energy.”
The shamed former detective expressed indifference to potential consequences, stating that it “matters not to me if I’m placed on the College of Policing barred list.”
Essex Police’s counter-corruption unit initiated an investigation into Marshall’s conduct following a meeting with the aggrieved woman, Miss A on an unrelated matter.
George Thomas concluded the opening statements of the hearing by emphasizing that Marshall, as an experienced officer, should have recognized the potentially criminal and emotionally abusive nature of his actions.
Thomas argued that Marshall’s conduct was a betrayal of the values of modern policing, particularly regarding the protection and respect of domestic abuse victims.
The outcome of the misconduct hearing will determine the disciplinary actions, if any, to be taken against Lewis Marshall.